Highest-paying jobs in Denver
Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2021.
In Denver, the annual mean wage is $66,750 or 14.6% higher than national mean of $58,260, while the highest-paying occupation makes $317,850. Read on to see which jobs make the list.
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#50. Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers
- Annual mean salary: $119,720
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $100,450
- Employment: 7,370
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($152,290)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($150,970)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($149,070)
#49. Electronics engineers, except computer
- Annual mean salary: $119,890
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,230
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,490
- Employment: 107,170
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,060)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($138,480)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($136,310)
#48. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $120,540
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#47. Software developers
- Annual mean salary: $120,750
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 25,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,990
- Employment: 1,364,180
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($167,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($158,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($148,220)
#46. Physician assistants
- Annual mean salary: $121,110
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- Employment: 132,940
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($167,240)
--- Panama City, FL ($165,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($164,150)
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#45. Nurse midwives
- Annual mean salary: $123,480
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $114,210
- Employment: 7,750
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston, WV ($169,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($162,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,570)
#44. Pharmacists
- Annual mean salary: $124,980
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,690
- Employment: 312,550
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($163,840)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($158,420)
#43. Dentists, general
- Annual mean salary: $125,590
- #305 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $167,160
- Employment: 108,680
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($276,510)
--- Salinas, CA ($234,410)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($229,800)
#42. Computer network architects
- Annual mean salary: $128,400
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $120,650
- Employment: 168,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,900)
--- Rapid City, SD ($145,810)
#41. Fundraising managers
- Annual mean salary: $128,620
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- Employment: 23,190
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($175,610)
--- Syracuse, NY ($155,700)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,980)
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#40. Computer hardware engineers
- Annual mean salary: $129,640
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,230
- Employment: 73,750
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,320)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($161,580)

#39. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $130,160
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#38. Optometrists
- Annual mean salary: $133,340
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $125,440
- Employment: 38,720
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wilmington, NC ($198,370)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($172,190)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($169,140)

#37. Biochemists and biophysicists
- Annual mean salary: $133,390
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,460
- Employment: 35,050
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($135,070)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($133,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($133,390)

#36. Sales engineers
- Annual mean salary: $133,400
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760
National
- Annual mean salary: $118,630
- Employment: 59,550
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salisbury, MD-DE ($169,330)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($158,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($158,320)
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#35. Database architects
- Annual mean salary: $133,460
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $121,840
- Employment: 50,440
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($187,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,830)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($156,530)

#34. Medical and health services managers
- Annual mean salary: $133,560
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#33. Physicists
- Annual mean salary: $137,640
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $151,580
- Employment: 20,020
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($199,830)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($195,300)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($188,250)
#32. General and operations managers
- Annual mean salary: $139,000
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 24,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)
#31. Administrative services managers
- Annual mean salary: $139,240
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)
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#30. Aerospace engineers
- Annual mean salary: $140,660
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $122,970
- Employment: 56,640
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA ($166,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,490)
--- Boulder, CO ($148,990)
#29. Lawyers
- Annual mean salary: $143,890
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $148,030
- Employment: 681,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($231,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($191,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($186,610)
#28. Petroleum engineers
- Annual mean salary: $146,250
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920
National
- Annual mean salary: $145,720
- Employment: 22,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,700)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($175,590)
--- Anchorage, AK ($169,650)
#27. Compensation and benefits managers
- Annual mean salary: $147,740
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)

#26. Training and development managers
- Annual mean salary: $148,360
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)
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#25. Natural sciences managers
- Annual mean salary: $148,390
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

#24. Industrial production managers
- Annual mean salary: $149,140
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)
#23. Public relations managers
- Annual mean salary: $154,280
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)

#22. Human resources managers
- Annual mean salary: $161,620
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,570
National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#21. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Annual mean salary: $162,510
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,890
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,190
- Employment: 81,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($255,250)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($243,380)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($242,540)
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#20. Marketing managers
- Annual mean salary: $162,980
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,970
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)
#19. Podiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $164,170
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,380
- Employment: 8,840
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($231,930)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($219,920)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($205,040)
#18. Advertising and promotions managers
- Annual mean salary: $166,620
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)

#17. Judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates
- Annual mean salary: $167,420
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,520
- Employment: 27,790
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($225,610)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($208,310)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($200,980)

#16. Purchasing managers
- Annual mean salary: $168,140
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)
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#15. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Annual mean salary: $172,540
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)
#14. Nurse anesthetists
- Annual mean salary: $173,320
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $202,470
- Employment: 43,950
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, IL ($298,890)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($283,550)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($276,810)
#13. Computer and information systems managers
- Annual mean salary: $174,970
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#12. Sales managers
- Annual mean salary: $177,430
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)
#11. Architectural and engineering managers
- Annual mean salary: $178,130
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)
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#10. Financial managers
- Annual mean salary: $180,660
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)
#9. Athletes and sports competitors
- Annual mean salary: $186,990
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,930
- Employment: 12,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($212,500)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($210,210)
--- Columbus, OH ($201,290)
#8. Family medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $226,330
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $235,930
- Employment: 102,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($336,820)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($336,140)
--- Gainesville, GA ($330,930)
#7. Pediatricians, general
- Annual mean salary: $232,440
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $198,420
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($298,760)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($298,320)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($291,940)
#6. Physicians, pathologists
- Annual mean salary: $237,210
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $267,180
- Employment: 11,010
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($351,450)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($344,900)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($341,360)
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#5. Chief executives
- Annual mean salary: $249,780
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)
#4. General internal medicine physicians
- Annual mean salary: $258,440
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $242,190
- Employment: 58,260
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($359,200)
--- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ($350,330)
--- Sumter, SC ($334,810)

#3. Psychiatrists
- Annual mean salary: $264,630
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $249,760
- Employment: 25,520
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($360,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($360,740)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($333,190)
#2. Ophthalmologists, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $273,050
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $270,090
- Employment: 11,610
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($356,830)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($355,740)
--- York-Hanover, PA ($344,470)
#1. Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric
- Annual mean salary: $317,850
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $306,220
- Employment: 16,260
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($366,650)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($364,290)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($354,880)
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