Colorado Teacher Salary and Benefits
Colorado teachers earn a median salary between $62,870 and $72,900 a year depending on grade level, according to May 2025 BLS data, with several teaching categories projected to grow more than 12% through 2034. Beyond pay, Colorado teachers get a defined-benefit pension through PERA and health, dental, and vision coverage through PERACare.
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Teaching pay in Colorado varies by grade level and experience, and the state’s public pension system adds a layer most private-sector jobs don’t have. Here’s what current BLS data shows about salary and job growth, plus how Colorado’s retirement and health benefits work for public school teachers. If you’re still weighing whether to pursue a license, it helps to first check Colorado’s teacher licensure requirements.
How Much Do Colorado Teachers Earn?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Colorado elementary school teachers earned a median annual salary of $63,410 as of May 2025, close to the $63,970 national median for the same category. Secondary school teachers in Colorado had a higher median, at $72,900, just below the $72,040 national figure.
| Teaching Category | Colorado Median Annual Wage | Colorado Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $62,870 | 3,260 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $63,410 | 24,860 |
| Middle School Teachers | $63,760 | 13,280 |
| Secondary (High) School Teachers | $72,900 | 18,310 |
Pay also climbs with experience and additional degrees. Individual school districts set their own salary schedules on top of these statewide figures, so a teacher’s actual paycheck depends heavily on which district they work in and where they fall on that district’s step-and-lane scale. Contact your district’s HR office or check its published salary schedule for exact figures at your experience level.
For the full Colorado dataset, including 75th and 90th percentile wages, see the BLS OEWS Colorado state page.
Colorado Teacher Job Growth Through 2034
Colorado’s outlook for teaching jobs runs well ahead of the national trend. The BLS projects a slight national decline in these occupations through 2034, driven largely by enrollment trends, but Colorado’s own state labor projections show growth across every teaching category.
| Teaching Category | Colorado Growth (2024–2034) | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | 12.8% | 430 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 12.8% | 2,080 |
| Middle School Teachers | 12.8% | 1,140 |
| Secondary (High) School Teachers | 12.9% | 1,440 |
These figures come from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s labor market gateway, which sources its projections separately from the national BLS outlook data above. Anyone weighing a move into Colorado classrooms is looking at a considerably tighter labor market than the national average suggests.
Health Insurance Benefits for Colorado Teachers
Most Colorado school districts offer teachers health insurance, though the specific plan and carrier options depend on the district. Many districts participate in PERACare, the health insurance program run by the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA), which is open to active employees at participating employers. Some districts instead offer their own district-specific plans separate from PERACare.
Employees working at least 16 hours a week are typically eligible for PERACare, with coverage tiers usually including employee-only, employee plus spouse, employee plus children, and employee plus family. Depending on the district and plan year, carriers offering PERACare coverage have included Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, CIGNA Dental, Delta Dental, and VSP for vision. Commonly covered services include office visits, preventive care, prenatal care, prescription drugs, and mental health care, though coverage details vary by plan.
Because plan offerings and premiums change from year to year, check with your employing school district or review current options directly through PERACare’s own materials before assuming a specific plan or carrier applies to you.
Colorado PERA: Retirement Benefits for Teachers
Most Colorado public school teachers belong to PERA, a defined-benefit pension system established in 1931 that now serves public employees across the state, including nearly all school districts. Rather than a 401(k)-style account balance, PERA pays a monthly benefit in retirement based on a formula tied to years of service and highest average salary.
Both teachers and school districts contribute a percentage of salary to the pension fund. Exact contribution rates are set by statute and adjusted periodically under PERA’s Automatic Adjustment Provision, so check PERA’s current member contribution rates rather than relying on a fixed percentage, since rates can shift from year to year.
Retirement eligibility depends on a combination of age and years of service credit, and the exact thresholds vary by division and by when a member joined PERA. Because these thresholds are set by statute and can differ by membership tier, use PERA’s benefit calculator to estimate eligibility and monthly pension based on your own service record.
In addition to lifetime monthly pensions, PERA offers survivor and disability benefits, optional life insurance, health insurance through PERACare, and voluntary retirement savings options like a 401(k) or 457 plan.
Teachers moving to Colorado from another state should also look into Colorado’s teacher reciprocity rules, since that affects how quickly you can start teaching and contributing to PERA in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Colorado teachers make?
Median annual salaries range from about $62,870 for kindergarten teachers to $72,900 for secondary school teachers, according to May 2025 BLS data. Actual pay depends on the district, years of experience, and degree level.
Do Colorado teachers get health insurance?
Most districts offer health insurance, often through PERACare, the plan administered by Colorado PERA. Coverage options and carriers vary by district and by plan year.
Is teaching in Colorado in demand?
State labor projections show 12 to 13 percent growth across kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary teaching roles through 2034, well above the flat-to-declining national trend for these occupations.
Do all Colorado teachers get a pension?
Most public school teachers in Colorado participate in PERA, a defined-benefit pension system. Contribution rates and retirement eligibility depend on the member’s division and hire date, so check PERA’s own tools for your specific situation.
How does Colorado teacher pay compare to the national average?
Colorado’s median salaries are close to national figures for most teaching categories, with elementary and middle school medians slightly below the national median and secondary school pay close to parity, based on May 2025 BLS data.
- Pay varies by grade level. Colorado’s median teacher salaries range from about $62,870 to $72,900 a year depending on teaching category, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Colorado’s job market is growing faster than the national average. State projections show 12 to 13 percent growth across teaching categories through 2034, versus a national decline.
- Health coverage usually runs through PERACare or a district plan. Specific carriers and coverage tiers depend on the employing district.
- PERA provides a defined-benefit pension. Most Colorado teachers earn a lifetime monthly benefit based on service and salary, but contribution rates and eligibility depend on division and hire date.
- Details change year to year. Always confirm current contribution rates, plan options, and eligibility directly through PERA or your district rather than relying on a fixed figure.
Explore accredited teacher preparation and licensure programs and learn how to become a licensed teacher in Colorado.
May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
