April 5, 2021

Boulder leads Colorado metro areas in wages, outpacing state, nation

Workers in Colorado earn a higher wage on average than the nation a whole, and among the metropolitan statistical areas of the state, Boulder workers earn the most.

Colorado workers made an hourly wage of $29.25 in 2020, about 8% above the United States average of $27.07, according to the Colorado Occupational Employment and Wages report released Monday by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. 

The Boulder metropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Boulder County, had 181,420 jobs in 2020, the most common of which was software developer. Workers in the Boulder area are the best-paid in the state, earning an average of $33.87 per hour.

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Retail salesperson was the most common job in the Fort Collins metropolitan area, where there were 156,030 total workers last year. Those workers earned an average hourly wage of $27.01

In the Greeley MSA — encompassing Weld County — heavy-truck and tractor-trailer driver was the most common job. There were a total of 104,510 jobs in the area last year that paid an average of $25.17 per hour.

The state’s data came from a survey of 6,833 businesses in November 2019 and May 2020.

Statewide, the most common occupational groups in 2020 were office and administrative support (314,260 workers), sales and related (268,680), and food preparation and serving related occupations (215,880). Combined, these three groups accounted for 31% of total employment in the state. 

Workers in management roles had the highest average wage ($67.65 per hour), while food preparation and service workers were paid the lowest ($15.07).

The state’s data came from a survey of 6,833 businesses in November 2019 and May 2020.

© 2021 BizWest Media LLC

Workers in Colorado earn a higher wage on average than the nation a whole, and among the metropolitan statistical areas of the state, Boulder workers earn the most.

Colorado workers made an hourly wage of $29.25 in 2020, about 8% above the United States average of $27.07, according to the Colorado Occupational Employment and Wages report released Monday by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. 

The Boulder metropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Boulder County, had 181,420 jobs in 2020, the most common of which was software developer. Workers in the Boulder area are the best-paid in the state, earning…

Lucas High
A Maryland native, Lucas has worked at news agencies from Wyoming to South Carolina before putting roots down in Colorado.
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