Lawyer salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Lawyers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $177,380 a year ($85.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $337,050 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 5% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $168,520. There are 7.4 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $203,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,640 | $43.58 |
| 25th percentile | $124,880 | $60.04 |
| Median | $177,380 | $85.28 |
| 75th percentile | $267,360 | $128.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $337,050 | $162.05 |
| Average (mean) | $203,690 | $97.93 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,781.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,390.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,822.31 |
| Weekly | $3,411.15 |
| Hourly | $85.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Greeley, CO | $132,990 | 260 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $131,380 | 500 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $113,610 | 260 |
| Pueblo, CO | $113,170 | 140 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $106,320 | 1,390 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $198,790 | $95.57 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $121,410 | $58.37 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $67,230 | $32.32 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $80,500 | $38.70 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $72,250 | $34.74 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $79,630 | $38.28 |
More: Legal Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for lawyers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $177,380 a year, or $85.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $337,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $337,050 a year. The top 25% earn $267,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,640 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $124,880 or less.
How many lawyers work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 11,860 lawyers are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.