How much will I take home on a $50,000 salary in Colorado?

On a $50,000 annual salary in Colorado filing single with no extra deductions, the estimated 2026 take-home is roughly $40,155 per year (about $1,544 per biweekly check).

How do I calculate my Colorado paycheck?

Start with gross pay, subtract any pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, health insurance), apply the 2026 federal brackets, apply Colorado's state income tax, then withhold FICA at 6.2% Social Security (up to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare.

What taxes come out of a Colorado paycheck?

Federal income tax, Colorado state income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45% with an extra 0.9% above $200,000 in wages). Optional pre-tax deductions reduce taxable income.

Is this Colorado paycheck calculator updated for 2026?

Yes — federal brackets, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, standard deductions, and Colorado's listed state rates all reflect 2026 values per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and the OBBBA (July 2025) updates.

How does pay frequency change my Colorado take-home pay?

Your annual tax bill is the same whether you're paid weekly (52), biweekly (26), semimonthly (24), or monthly (12) — the calculator annualizes gross wages and then divides the net back out. Per-check take-home differs slightly because federal withholding tables round each period and FICA stops mid-year once you hit the $184,500 Social Security wage base. On a $50,000 Colorado salary the ~$40,155 annual net works out to about $772 weekly, $1,544 biweekly, $1,673 semimonthly, or $3,346 monthly.

What counts as taxable income on a Colorado paycheck?

Taxable wages are your gross pay minus qualifying pre-tax deductions — 401(k) / 403(b) traditional contributions, HSA, FSA, and Section 125 health, dental, and vision premiums. That reduced amount is what federal and Colorado state income tax is calculated on. FICA (Social Security + Medicare) still applies to 401(k) contributions but not to Section 125 health premiums or HSA. Post-tax deductions (Roth 401(k), garnishments, life insurance) do not lower taxable income — they just reduce net pay.

Who should use this Colorado salary paycheck calculator?

Anyone paid W-2 wages in Colorado who wants a fast estimate of net take-home: salaried employees comparing offers, hourly workers planning shifts and overtime, job seekers negotiating salary, HR and payroll professionals sanity-checking a check, and people budgeting for a move to or from Colorado. It handles single, married filing jointly, and head-of-household filers with pre-tax 401(k), HSA, and health deductions. It is an estimate — not a substitute for Form W-4 or your state withholding certificate or a CPA.

What is the Colorado state income tax rate for 2026?

Colorado levies a single flat 4.40% state income tax on all taxable wages under C.R.S. §39-22-104 — no brackets, no filing-status adjustment. The Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) applies this same 4.40% to a $40,000 earner and a $400,000 earner. Voters most recently reaffirmed the flat structure via Proposition 121 (2022), which cut the rate from 4.55% to 4.40%.

How much do I take home on a $75,000 salary in Colorado?

A $75,000 Colorado salary (single filer, no pre-tax deductions, 2026 rates) yields about $58,293 per year — roughly $2,242 biweekly, $2,429 semimonthly, or $4,858 monthly. Colorado state tax at 4.40% costs about $3,300, federal is ~$7,670, and FICA is ~$5,738. FAMLI adds another ~$338/yr (0.45%). At $60,000 you net about $47,750; at $100,000 about $74,780; at $150,000 about $107,191.

What is Colorado FAMLI and how much does it take from my paycheck?

FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance) is Colorado's paid family and medical leave program under C.R.S. §8-13.3, created by Proposition 118 (2020) and administered by CDLE. The total premium is 0.9% of wages up to the $184,500 Social Security wage base, split 50/50 — so the employee share withheld from your paycheck is 0.45%. On a $60,000 Colorado salary that's $270/year (~$10 per biweekly check); on $100,000, $450/year. The maximum any employee will pay in 2026 is $830 (0.45% × the $184,500 cap). It appears on paystubs as "CO FAMLI" or "FAMLI EE" and funds up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Can I opt out of Colorado FAMLI?

No — as a W-2 employee working in Colorado you cannot individually opt out of FAMLI. The only exemptions are federal government employees, some railroad workers, and employees of employers that have adopted an approved equivalent private paid-leave plan under CDLE rules 7 CCR 1107-4. Self-employed and 1099 workers are the reverse — they can voluntarily opt IN for a 3-year commitment at the 0.45% employee-only rate.

What is Colorado Form DR 0004 and do I have to file one?

Form DR 0004 (Colorado Employee Withholding Certificate) is CDOR's state-specific withholding form. Filing it is optional — if you don't, employers use your federal Form W-4 plus Colorado's default rules ($5,500 single / $11,000 joint 2026 allowance). But because the 2020 W-4 redesign no longer maps cleanly onto Colorado's flat 4.40% structure, W-4-only withholding is the #1 cause of unexpected Colorado balance-dues and refunds. File a DR 0004 if you have a second job, a working spouse, itemize on Colorado DR 0104, or owed $500+ to Colorado last April.

How do I close a Colorado balance-due with DR 0004 Line 3?

DR 0004 Line 3 is the "additional Colorado withholding per pay period" line. Take last year's Colorado balance-due, divide by your pay periods, and enter that dollar amount on Line 3. Example: a $600 April balance-due on biweekly pay = $600 ÷ 26 ≈ $24 extra per check. Payroll withholds an extra $24 of Colorado tax on every paycheck; next April's balance-due drops to roughly $0 with no bracket or allowance math.

What is the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT) and how much does it cost me?

Denver OPT — the "Denver head tax" under Denver Revised Municipal Code Ch. 53, Art. III — is a flat $5.75/month withheld from any employee who earns $500+ working inside Denver city limits during a calendar month. Employers separately pay $4.00/month per employee. It is NOT percentage-based: a $50,000 Denver worker and a $500,000 Denver worker both pay $5.75/month = $69/year. It's typically withheld from the first paycheck of each month and skipped on the rest.

Which Colorado cities charge Occupational Privilege Tax besides Denver?

Five Colorado cities levy an OPT in 2026: Denver ($5.75 employee / $4.00 employer per month, $500 threshold), Aurora ($2.00 / $2.00, $250 threshold), Glendale ($5.00 / $5.00, $750 threshold), Greenwood Village ($2.00 / $2.00, $250 threshold), and Sheridan ($3.00 / $3.00, $500 threshold). OPT is owed based on where you physically work — a Boulder resident who commutes to a Denver office owes Denver OPT; a Denver resident working fully remote for an out-of-city employer owes none. Cherry Creek and DTC-adjacent offices often sit in Glendale rather than Denver, so check your worksite address.

Do I owe Denver OPT if I work remotely from a Denver home?

If you physically perform work in Denver and earn $500+ in the month, your Denver-based employer must withhold OPT — including remote work from a Denver residence. If your employer is HQ'd in Denver but you work fully remote from Boulder or Colorado Springs, you do not owe Denver OPT for months you never worked inside the city. Hybrid workers owe OPT for any month they cross the $500 in-city earnings threshold.

How is a bonus taxed on a Colorado paycheck?

Colorado treats bonuses and other supplemental wages as regular wages taxed at the flat 4.40% state rate — Colorado does not have a separate supplemental rate. Federal supplemental withholding still applies at 22% (37% above $1M/year), plus 6.2% Social Security, 1.45% Medicare, and 0.45% FAMLI. A $10,000 bonus in Colorado typically has roughly $2,200 federal + $440 Colorado state + $620 SS + $145 Medicare + $45 FAMLI ≈ $3,450 withheld, netting about $6,550 — reconciled to your true rate on Colorado Form DR 0104 at year-end.

Does Colorado have city or county income tax like New York or Ohio?

No — Colorado has no broad-based local income tax. There is no Denver, Boulder, or Colorado Springs city income tax on wages the way New York City or Cleveland levy one. The only city-level payroll charge is the flat monthly OPT in Denver, Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, and Sheridan (a fixed dollar amount, not a percentage of wages).

When am I required to file a Colorado DR 0004?

Filing DR 0004 is legally optional — Colorado employers can always fall back to your federal Form W-4 plus CDOR's default allowance ($5,500 single / $11,000 joint in 2026). But CDOR's own DR 0004 instructions flag six situations where you should file one to avoid an April surprise: (1) you owed $500+ to Colorado last April, (2) you have a second job or a working spouse who also has Colorado withholding, (3) you itemize on Colorado Form DR 0104 (mortgage interest, large charitable gifts, state/local tax deductions), (4) you have significant non-wage Colorado income (rental, 1099, RSU vesting, capital gains), (5) you started a new job mid-year and prior-year withholding won't cover 2026, or (6) you want to claim exempt status on Line 4. Outside those triggers, the federal W-4 default is usually fine for a single-employer, standard-deduction household.

When is the DR 0004 due — is there a filing deadline?

There is no fixed calendar deadline. DR 0004 is an internal payroll document given to your employer (not mailed to the Colorado Department of Revenue), so the "due date" is whenever you want the change to take effect. Employers must implement a new or updated DR 0004 by the start of the first payroll period ending on or after the 30th day after you submit it (7 CCR 201-4), but most payroll systems apply it on the next scheduled check. Best practice: submit a new DR 0004 within 10 days of any life event that changes your Colorado tax — marriage, divorce, new job, spouse's job change, home purchase, or a $500+ Colorado balance-due on your April Form DR 0104. An "exempt" DR 0004 (Line 4) expires February 15 each year and must be re-filed annually, just like a federal W-4 exempt claim.

Who qualifies as exempt from Colorado withholding on DR 0004 Line 4?

DR 0004 Line 4 lets you claim total exemption from Colorado income tax withholding, but the bar is high: you must have had no Colorado income tax liability last year AND expect none this year. In practice that means your total 2026 Colorado taxable income will fall below the filing threshold (roughly the federal standard deduction plus the Colorado allowance), typically students, part-year residents earning under ~$15,000, or dependents with minimal wages. Claiming exempt when you actually owe Colorado tax exposes you to the underpayment penalty under C.R.S. §39-22-621 plus interest. Line 4 exempt status must be re-filed by February 15 each year or your employer must revert to default withholding.

Who is exempt from Colorado FAMLI premiums?

FAMLI exemptions under C.R.S. §8-13.3-503 and CDLE rules 7 CCR 1107-1 are narrow: (1) federal government employees (federal service is preempted), (2) certain railroad employees covered by the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, (3) employees of local governments whose employer voted to decline FAMLI participation (some counties and municipalities opted out — check your paystub), and (4) employees of a private employer that has an approved equivalent private paid-leave plan on file with CDLE (the plan must match or exceed FAMLI benefits). Regular W-2 workers at private Colorado employers CANNOT opt out individually — no religious, hardship, or filing-status exemption exists. Self-employed and 1099 contractors are the mirror image: they are not covered by default and must voluntarily elect in for a 3-year commitment at the 0.45% employee-only rate.

When are FAMLI premiums remitted and when can I file a claim?

FAMLI premiums are withheld from every paycheck starting January 1, 2023 (0.45% employee share) and remitted by employers to CDLE quarterly on the last day of the month following each calendar quarter (April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31) using the My FAMLI+ Employer portal. Employees do not file anything to fund the program — withholding is automatic. Benefit claims (up to 12 weeks paid leave, 16 for pregnancy/birth complications) became available January 1, 2024, and can be filed via My FAMLI+ Employee once you've earned $2,500+ in Colorado wages in the prior four quarters and have a qualifying reason (bonding, own serious health condition, family caregiving, military exigency, or safe leave). Benefits pay 37%–90% of your average weekly wage, capped at $1,324/week in 2026, and the state has 14 days to approve a claim after all documentation is received.

How much FAMLI is withheld from a $60,000 Colorado biweekly paycheck?

On a $60,000 Colorado salary paid biweekly (26 checks per year), each paycheck gross is $60,000 ÷ 26 = $2,307.69. FAMLI is 0.45% of gross, so $2,307.69 × 0.0045 = $10.38 per paycheck, or $270 per year. All $60,000 is under the $184,500 SSA wage base, so no capping applies.

What is the maximum Colorado FAMLI premium an employee can pay in 2026?

$830.25 per year. FAMLI applies only to wages up to the 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500. At the 0.45% employee rate, the ceiling is $184,500 × 0.0045 = $830.25. Any earnings above the cap in a given year are exempt, and the FAMLI line drops to $0 on paychecks after you cross it — the same behavior as Social Security withholding.

Does the FAMLI premium change with filing status or pre-tax deductions?

No. FAMLI is a flat 0.45% employee premium on gross wages regardless of Form W-4 or DR 0004 filing status, and it is calculated before 401(k), HSA, or Section 125 pre-tax deductions — the same wage definition used for Social Security and Medicare. Every worked example on the Colorado paycheck calculator page uses this identical method.

How much does a $200,000 Colorado earner pay in FAMLI?

$830.25 per year — the annual maximum. Only the first $184,500 of wages is FAMLI-eligible, so a $200,000 earner pays $184,500 × 0.45% = $830.25. A high-earner biweekly worker (26 checks) hits the cap around late September and sees $0 FAMLI on paychecks for the rest of the calendar year.

Is FAMLI the same as the Colorado 4.40% state income tax?

No. Colorado state income tax (4.40% flat under C.R.S. §39-22-104) funds general state government and is administered by CDOR. FAMLI (0.45% employee, 0.45% employer, 0.9% total) is a separate premium under C.R.S. §8-13.3 administered by CDLE, dedicated exclusively to Colorado's paid family and medical leave insurance program. Both appear as separate line items on Colorado paystubs.

What is the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT) and how much is withheld from my paycheck?

Denver OPT — the 'Denver head tax' under Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 53, Article III — is a flat $5.75 per month withheld from any employee who earns $500 or more working inside Denver city limits during a calendar month. The employer separately pays $4.00 per month per covered employee. OPT is NOT a percentage of wages: a $50,000 Denver worker and a $500,000 Denver worker each pay $5.75/month = $69.00/year. It is typically withheld from the first paycheck of each month and skipped on the remaining checks in that month.

Which Colorado cities charge an Occupational Privilege Tax besides Denver?

Five Colorado cities levy an OPT in 2026: Denver ($5.75 employee / $4.00 employer per month, $500 monthly threshold), Aurora ($2.00 / $2.00, $250 threshold), Glendale ($5.00 / $5.00, $750 threshold), Greenwood Village ($2.00 / $2.00, $250 threshold), and Sheridan ($3.00 / $3.00, $500 threshold). No other Colorado city — including Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Lakewood — imposes an OPT. Cherry Creek and DTC office buildings often sit inside Glendale rather than Denver, so verify your worksite address before assuming which city's OPT applies.

Do commuters or remote workers owe Denver OPT?

OPT follows the worksite, not residency. A Boulder or Aurora resident who commutes into a Denver office owes Denver OPT for any month they earn $500+ working inside Denver. A Denver resident who works fully remote for an out-of-city employer owes no Denver OPT because no work is performed inside Denver. Remote work from a Denver home for a Denver employer DOES trigger OPT once the employee earns $500 in-city that month. Hybrid workers owe the full $5.75 in any month they cross the $500 in-city threshold — the tax does not prorate by days worked in Denver.

What happens to Colorado OPT if I earn less than the monthly threshold?

If your in-city earnings for a calendar month fall below the city's threshold ($500 for Denver and Sheridan, $250 for Aurora and Greenwood Village, $750 for Glendale), no OPT is withheld from either the employee or the employer for that month. Part-time, seasonal, and low-hour workers often skip OPT some months and owe it in others. Multiple part-time jobs inside the same city are evaluated per employer — the threshold is not aggregated across employers.

Does Colorado OPT change with salary, filing status, or 401(k) contributions?

No. OPT is a fixed monthly dollar amount, not a percentage of wages. It does not scale with salary, does not vary by W-4 or DR 0004 filing status, and is not reduced by pre-tax 401(k), HSA, or Section 125 deductions. The only variable is whether you crossed the city's monthly earnings threshold. That is why Denver OPT costs the same $69/year for a $60,000 worker and a $600,000 worker — the only city payroll charge in Colorado that behaves this way.

How is Denver OPT different from Colorado FAMLI and the 4.40% state income tax?

Three completely separate charges appear on a Denver paystub. (1) Colorado state income tax — 4.40% flat under C.R.S. §39-22-104, administered by CDOR, scales with wages. (2) FAMLI — 0.45% employee premium on wages up to the $184,500 SSA wage base under C.R.S. §8-13.3, administered by CDLE, funds paid family and medical leave. (3) Denver OPT — $5.75 flat per month under Denver Municipal Code Ch. 53, administered by Denver's Treasury Division, funds general city services. OPT is by far the smallest of the three and applies only in five Colorado cities.

Does Denver OPT depend on where I live or where I work?

Denver OPT follows the worksite, not residency. Under Denver Revised Municipal Code Ch. 53, Art. III, the tax applies to any employee who earns $500 or more in a calendar month for services physically performed inside Denver city limits. A Boulder resident who commutes into a Denver office owes Denver OPT; a Denver resident who works fully remote for an out-of-city employer does not.

What happens to my Denver OPT if I earn less than $500 inside Denver in a month?

No Denver OPT is withheld for any calendar month where your in-Denver earnings are under $500. The threshold resets every month. Part-time workers, hybrid employees with light in-office schedules, and workers on unpaid leave can have some qualifying months and some non-qualifying months in the same year — payroll evaluates the $500 threshold independently for each month.

How does Denver OPT apply to hybrid or remote workers?

Hybrid workers owe the full $5.75 in any month they clear the $500 in-Denver earnings threshold — OPT does not prorate by days worked in Denver. Fully remote workers based outside Denver owe $0 because no work is performed inside Denver, even if the employer is HQ'd downtown. Fully remote workers based in Denver working for a Denver employer do owe OPT once monthly in-Denver earnings reach $500.

If I switch worksites from Denver to Aurora mid-year, how does OPT change?

Denver OPT applies only for months you meet the $500 in-Denver threshold. Once you transfer to an Aurora worksite and perform no work in Denver, Denver OPT is $0 going forward. Aurora's OPT is a separate ordinance at $2.00/month with a $250 monthly threshold — if your Aurora-source earnings meet that threshold, Aurora OPT applies to those months instead. There is no reciprocity between Colorado city OPTs.

How much annual Denver OPT does a full-year Denver worker owe?

At most $69.00 per year — $5.75 × 12 months. A worker who clears the $500 in-Denver threshold in every calendar month pays $69. A worker with 9 qualifying months and 3 sub-threshold or non-Denver months pays $5.75 × 9 = $51.75. Denver OPT is a flat fee, so the annual total depends only on the count of qualifying months, not salary.

Are Denver OPT and the other four Colorado city OPTs affected by pre-tax 401(k) or Section 125 deductions?

No. All five Colorado city OPTs — Denver ($5.75), Aurora ($2.00), Glendale ($5.00), Greenwood Village ($2.00), and Sheridan ($3.00) — are flat monthly fees measured against gross compensation for services performed inside the city. Pre-tax 401(k), HSA, and Section 125 cafeteria-plan deductions do not reduce OPT and do not affect whether you cross the monthly earnings threshold.

Colorado Salary Paycheck Calculator 2026 — Free Take-Home Pay Estimator

How much do I take home in Colorado?

In Colorado, take-home pay equals gross wages minus federal income tax, Colorado's flat 4.40% state income tax (C.R.S. §39-22-104, withheld per Form DR 0004 with the Colorado Department of Revenue), 6.2% Social Security (up to the $184,500 wage base in 2026), 1.45% Medicare, and the Colorado FAMLI employee premium of 0.45% on all wages (up to the Social Security wage base) under C.R.S. §8-13.3-501 et seq. Depending on where you work, an Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT) may apply as a flat monthly head tax: Denver $5.75/mo (above $500 earned in the city), Aurora $2.00/mo, Glendale $5.00/mo, Greenwood Village $2.00/mo, and Sheridan $3.00/mo. On a $60,000 salary, state-and-federal net is roughly $47,750 per year (~$1,837 biweekly, ~$1,990 semimonthly, ~$3,979 monthly); a $75,000 salary nets about $58,293 per year — subtract FAMLI (~$338/yr at $75k) and the flat OPT if your work city imposes one.

1Pay Details
2Your State
3Results

Step 1 — Your Pay

Gross Pay

Pay Frequency

Pay Type

Step 2 — Your State

State

Filing Status

Allowances

Your Estimated Take-Home Pay

$51,547.50

per annual paycheck (1 per year)

Gross Pay$65,000.00

100.0%

Federal Tax−$5,620.00

8.6%

Colorado State Tax−$2,860.00

4.4%

Social Security−$4,030.00

6.2%

Medicare−$942.50

1.5%

Pre-tax Deductions$0.00

0.0%

Net Take-Home$51,547.50

79.3%

Annual take-home

$51,548

Monthly take-home

$4,296

Good salary benchmark — Colorado

vs Colorado median household salary of $87,598/yr

74%

of Colorado median

−$22,598

below median

$0Colorado median: $87,598$175,196

Comparing against Colorado median household income · $87,598 (2023 ACS)

Your salary is below the Colorado median. Negotiating a raise, switching roles, or relocating can help close the gap.

Source: Colorado median household income ($87,598). Comparison divides your gross salary by the state median. Data drawn from the latest available U.S. Census Bureau ACS estimates for Colorado.

Effective rate 20.7%Marginal federal 12%

Full breakdown

Paycheck Estimate — 2026

US State Paycheck Calculator · usstatepaycheckcalculator.com · Generated August 12, 2026

Inputs

Gross pay	$65,000.00 / annual
Pay type	Salary
State	Colorado
Filing status	Single
Allowances	0
401(k) contribution	—
Health (pre-tax / period)	—
HSA (pre-tax / period)	—
Other pre-tax / period	—

Results

Take-home — Colorado

Line item	Per annual	Annual
Gross pay	$65,000.00	$65,000
Federal income tax	−$5,620.00	−$5,620
State income tax	−$2,860.00	−$2,860
Social Security (6.2%)	−$4,030.00	−$4,030
Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% over threshold)	−$942.50	−$943
Pre-tax deductions	−$0.00	−$0
Net take-home	$51,547.50	$51,548

Effective tax rate: 20.7% · Marginal federal: 12%

Estimate only — not tax or payroll advice. Based on 2026 IRS federal brackets, FICA rates (Social Security wage base $184,500), and the selected state's published tax rules. Excludes itemized deductions, household credits, local/city/county taxes, employee-paid SUI/SDI, garnishments, post-tax benefits, equity compensation, and bonus/special supplemental withholding.

Before you download

Assumptions & Notes

These are the exact rules and constants used to produce your results — the same content included in the PDF report.

Filing status

Single

Std. deduction

$16,100

SS wage base

$184,500

Addl Medicare @

$200,000

Model coverage

What this calculation covers

A quick snapshot of which tax categories are actually applied to your current inputs — and which are intentionally excluded.

3 modeled7 excluded

Modeled in this result

Federal income tax
2026 IRS brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) with standard deduction
FICA — Social Security & Medicare
6.2% up to $184,500 wage base + 1.45% + 0.9% Additional Medicare surtax
Colorado state income tax
2026 published brackets or flat rate on wages after pre-tax deductions

Excluded from this result

Itemized deductions (SALT, mortgage, charitable)
Standard deduction always applied
Tax credits (CTC, EITC, care, education, energy, ACA)
Would reduce final tax owed
Local / city / county income taxes
e.g. NYC, Philadelphia, Ohio localities
Employee SUI / SDI / PFML
e.g. CA, NJ, NY, WA state disability & paid family leave
Equity comp & supplemental bonus withholding
RSUs, ISOs, ESPP, 22% bonus rule
Roth 401(k) & post-tax insurance
Doesn't reduce taxable wages but does reduce take-home
Wage garnishments & child support
Court-ordered withholdings from net pay

See the full excluded list — with per-item explanations — in "What's not modeled" below.

Transparency

What's not modeled

Review the deductions, credits, and exemptions this estimator intentionally excludes — so you know what to double-check before relying on the numbers or downloading the PDF.

2026 Net Pay Breakdown

Where every dollar goes

Filing: SingleColoradoTax year 2026

Line item	Per annual paycheck	Annual
Gross wages	$65,000.00	$65,000
Federal income tax
Federal income tax (IRS brackets) Marginal bracket 12% · 2026 IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32	−$5,620.00	−$5,620
FICA payroll taxes
Social Security (6.2%) 6.2% of FICA wages, up to $184,500 cap	−$4,030.00	−$4,030
Medicare (1.45%) No wage cap — applies to every dollar of FICA wages	−$942.50	−$943
Additional Medicare (0.9%) Not applicable — kicks in over $200,000 for Single	−$0.00	−$0
Total FICA	$4,972.50	$4,973
State income tax
Colorado state income tax Flat 4.40% on taxable wages	−$2,860.00	−$2,860
Total withholding
Total taxes + deductions	$13,452.50	$13,453
Net take-home pay	$51,547.50	$51,548

Calculated using 2026 IRS federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32), the $184,500 Social Security wage base, a $16,100 standard deduction for Single, and the Colorado 2026 state tax rules. Pre-tax 401(k) reduces federal taxable wages but is still subject to FICA; health and HSA contributions reduce both federal and FICA wages. Estimate only — not tax advice.

Colorado FAMLI — Paid Family & Medical Leave

The 0.45% employee premium on every Colorado paycheck, explained with worked examples

FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance) is Colorado's state-run paid leave program, created by Proposition 118 (2020) and codified at C.R.S. §8-13.3. It is administered by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE, FAMLI Division) and it appears on every Colorado paystub as a small pre-tax-visible deduction — typically labeled “CO FAMLI”, “FAMLI EE”, or “CO PFML”. Since January 1, 2024 eligible employees can draw up to 12 weeks of paid leave (16 for pregnancy/childbirth complications) at ~37%–90% wage replacement, capped at $1,100/week in 2024 and indexed each year.

Total premium

0.90%

Of wages up to the SSA wage base ($184,500 for 2026).

Employee share

0.45%

Withheld from your paycheck — the number this calculator applies to your Colorado net pay.

Employer share

0.45%

Employers with <10 CO employees are exempt from the employer half but still remit the 0.45% employee share.

Worked FAMLI employee premium at common Colorado salaries, 2026
Annual Colorado wages	FAMLI-eligible wages (capped)	Employee premium / yr (0.45%)	Per biweekly check	Per monthly check
$40,000 salary	$40,000.00	$180.00	$6.92	$15.00
$60,000 salary	$60,000.00	$270.00	$10.38	$22.50
$85,000 salary	$85,000.00	$382.50	$14.71	$31.87
$120,000 salary	$120,000.00	$540.00	$20.77	$45.00
$200,000 salary (capped)	$184,500.00	$830.25	$31.93	$69.19

Wages above the $184,500.00 Social Security wage base are not subject to FAMLI premium — the $200,000 row shows the maximum any Colorado employee will pay in 2026 ($830.25).

Worked example — $60,000 Colorado salary, biweekly

1. Gross wages this check: $60,000 ÷ 26 = $2,307.69.
2. FAMLI-eligible wages: $2,307.69 (under the $184,500.00 cap).
3. Employee premium: $2,307.69 × 0.45% = $10.38 per paycheck.
4. Annual FAMLI cost: $270.00 — about the price of one lunch a year.

The paycheck calculator above already includes this line for every Colorado paycheck — you don't need to add it manually.

Worked example — $200,000 Colorado salary (above the wage cap)

1. Only the first $184,500.00 of wages is FAMLI-eligible (matches the 2026 Social Security wage base).
2. Maximum annual employee premium: $184,500.00 × 0.45% = $830.25.
3. High earners hit the cap mid-year; the FAMLI line then drops to $0 on later paychecks (just like Social Security).
4. Employer separately owes another 0.45% on the same wages (unless the employer has fewer than 10 CO employees).

Who pays and who is exempt

• All W-2 employees working in Colorado — regardless of the employer's home state.
• Self-employed & 1099 workers — optional opt-in for 3-year commitments; premium is 0.45% (employee half only).
• Federal government employees, some railroad workers — exempt by federal preemption.
• Employers with an approved private plan — may substitute an equivalent private paid-leave plan and skip FAMLI premiums.

What FAMLI actually buys you

• Up to 12 weeks paid leave per year (16 for pregnancy complications).
• Covered reasons: bonding with a new child, own serious health condition, care for a family member, military exigency, safe leave (domestic violence).
• Wage replacement: ~90% of the first ~$775/week + 50% above, capped at ~$1,100/week (2024, indexed).
• Eligible after earning $2,500 in Colorado wages over the base year — no minimum tenure with your current employer.

Try it — with vs without FAMLI

Compare your Colorado paycheck side-by-side

Share this comparison ↗

Enter your Colorado gross salary and pay frequency — see exactly what the 0.45% FAMLI premium costs you per paycheck and per year.

Colorado gross salary (annual)

Pay frequency

HypotheticalWithout FAMLI

Gross per check$2,884.62

FAMLI withheld$0.00

Take-home before other taxes$2,884.62

Reference-only — Colorado has no opt-out from FAMLI for W-2 employees, so this column shows what your check would look like without the program.

Actual 2026With FAMLI (0.45%)

Gross per check$2,884.62

FAMLI withheld−$12.98

Take-home before other taxes$2,871.63

Annual FAMLI cost: $337.50. Buys up to 12 weeks of paid family/medical leave.

Difference on your paycheck: $12.98/check · $337.50/year

Run the full Colorado calculator ↑

Sources: Colorado Revised Statutes §8-13.3 (Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act); 7 CCR 1107-1 through 1107-6 (CDLE FAMLI Division rules); famli.colorado.gov. Premium split and wage cap current through the 2026 plan year. This section is educational — for benefit-claim questions contact the CDLE FAMLI Division directly.

Colorado Form DR 0004 — state withholding certificate

How DR 0004 changes your Colorado paycheck (and when to actually file one)

Form DR 0004 is the Colorado Employee Withholding Certificate, issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue (CDOR) after the 2020 IRS W-4 redesign left Colorado employers without a clean way to compute state withholding. It is optional — if you never file one, your employer uses your federal Form W-4 plus Colorado's default rules. But because federal and Colorado deductions no longer line up, W-4-only withholding is what causes most of the "why do I owe/get such a big Colorado refund?" surprises at filing time.

DR 0004 vs Federal W-4 — what each one does

Setting	Federal W-4	Colorado DR 0004
Filing status	Yes (Step 1)	No — CO uses a flat 4.40% rate regardless of status
Annual allowance	Federal standard deduction (built in)	Line 2 — you can override CO's default ($5,500 single / $11,000 joint 2026)
Additional withholding	Step 4(c) — federal only	Line 3 — extra Colorado withholding per paycheck
Multiple jobs	Step 2	Adjust Line 2 allowance downward (avoids double-counting)
Dependents / credits	Step 3 (Child Tax Credit)	Not on DR 0004 — claimed on Colorado Form DR 0104 at year-end

The 4 lines on DR 0004, in plain English

Line 1 — Personal info. Name, SSN, address. Nothing changes your paycheck here.
Line 2 — Annual withholding allowance. Overrides Colorado's default ($5,500 single / $11,000 joint for 2026). Raise it if you itemize on Colorado's DR 0104 or have large above-the-line deductions; lower it if you have multiple jobs or big non-wage income.
Line 3 — Additional Colorado withholding per pay period. A flat dollar amount added to every check — the cleanest way to close a small April shortfall without changing allowances.
Line 4 — Exemption. Sign only if you owed $0 Colorado tax last year and expect $0 this year. Rare for W-2 workers; misusing it triggers a Colorado balance due plus interest.

When you should file a DR 0004

• You have two jobs or a working spouse — W-4-only withholding usually under-withholds Colorado.
• You itemize on Colorado DR 0104 (mortgage interest, large charitable gifts, SALT above the CO cap).
• You owed $500+ to Colorado at last year's filing (raise Line 3 to close the gap).
• You got a large Colorado refund (>$1,000) and want to keep that money in your paycheck — raise Line 2.
• You have significant non-wage Colorado income (self-employment, rental, capital gains) — add Line 3 to cover it.

Worked example — closing a $600 Colorado shortfall

1. Last April you owed $600 to Colorado at filing.
2. You get paid biweekly (26 checks/year).
3. On DR 0004 Line 3, enter $24 ($600 ÷ 26 ≈ $23.08, rounded up).
4. Payroll withholds an extra $24 of Colorado tax on every check — the April balance-due goes to ~$0 with no bracket or allowance math.

Reverse the math to reduce withholding: raise Line 2 by ($refund ÷ 0.044) to move a refund back into your paycheck.

How to file DR 0004

1. Download the current-year form from tax.colorado.gov/withholding-forms (search "DR 0004").
2. Complete Lines 1–3 (skip Line 4 unless you're truly exempt). Use CDOR's DR 0004 Worksheet if you itemize or have multi-job math.
3. Give it to payroll / HR — not the IRS. DR 0004 is a Colorado-only form; the federal W-4 is separate.
4. Verify next paystub. The "CO SIT" or "CO Withholding" line should reflect the new amount within 1–2 pay cycles.
5. Re-file after life changes — marriage, divorce, second job, new dependent, home purchase, or a large April balance-due/refund.

Sources: Colorado Department of Revenue Form DR 0004 and the DR 0004 Worksheet; C.R.S. §39-22-104 (Colorado 4.40% flat income tax); CDOR Publication FYI Withholding 5. The paycheck calculator above uses Colorado's default withholding rules — filing a DR 0004 with your employer is what changes real-world paycheck withholding.

Colorado city Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT)

Denver OPT and the other four Colorado head-tax cities — 2026 rates, thresholds, and paycheck math

Colorado has no statewide local income tax, but five cities — Denver, Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, and Sheridan — levy a flat monthly Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT), informally called a “head tax.” Unlike the 4.40% state income tax, OPT is a fixed dollar amount per employee, per month, split between the employee (withheld from your paycheck) and the employer (paid separately). It applies to work performed physically within the city's boundaries — remote workers based outside the city usually don't owe it, even if the employer's HQ is downtown.

How your OPT amount is calculated

For each month you earn at least the city's monthly earnings threshold while physically working inside that city, the calculator withholds one flat employee OPT fee — once per month, regardless of pay frequency, salary, W-4 / DR 0004 filing status, or 401(k) / HSA / Section 125 pre-tax deductions. If you never cross the threshold in a month (part-time, unpaid leave, fully remote from outside the city), OPT for that month is $0.

Annual OPT = employee monthly fee × months at or above threshold. A full-time worker who clears the threshold all 12 months pays 12× the monthly fee: Denver $69.00 · Aurora $24.00 · Glendale $60.00 · Greenwood Village $24.00 · Sheridan $36.00.

City-specific OPT assumptions used on this page

These are the exact inputs each city's OPT line uses. Change your worksite city, threshold-crossing months, or filing scenario to see how the annual number shifts.

Denver

Assumed: 12 mo/yr

Employee fee: $5.75/mo
Employer fee: $4.00/mo
Monthly threshold: $500.00
Worksite test: Physical presence
Wage-based?: No — flat fee
Pre-tax reduces it?: No

Annual (12 mo above threshold): $69.00 — withheld from your paycheck

The original OPT city — largest workforce, most enforcement. Applies to any employee earning $500+ in Denver in a calendar month.

Aurora

Assumed: 12 mo/yr

Employee fee: $2.00/mo
Employer fee: $2.00/mo
Monthly threshold: $250.00
Worksite test: Physical presence
Wage-based?: No — flat fee
Pre-tax reduces it?: No

Annual (12 mo above threshold): $24.00 — withheld from your paycheck

Lower rate and lower threshold than Denver; applies to work performed within Aurora city limits.

Glendale

Assumed: 12 mo/yr

Employee fee: $5.00/mo
Employer fee: $5.00/mo
Monthly threshold: $750.00
Worksite test: Physical presence
Wage-based?: No — flat fee
Pre-tax reduces it?: No

Annual (12 mo above threshold): $60.00 — withheld from your paycheck

Small enclave city surrounded by Denver — many office workers technically fall under Glendale, not Denver.

Greenwood Village

Assumed: 12 mo/yr

Employee fee: $2.00/mo
Employer fee: $2.00/mo
Monthly threshold: $250.00
Worksite test: Physical presence
Wage-based?: No — flat fee
Pre-tax reduces it?: No

Annual (12 mo above threshold): $24.00 — withheld from your paycheck

DTC-area employers withhold this; low rate, low threshold means nearly all full-time workers owe it.

Sheridan

Assumed: 12 mo/yr

Employee fee: $3.00/mo
Employer fee: $3.00/mo
Monthly threshold: $500.00
Worksite test: Physical presence
Wage-based?: No — flat fee
Pre-tax reduces it?: No

Annual (12 mo above threshold): $36.00 — withheld from your paycheck

Small city south of Denver; OPT applies to employees working within the city limits.

Withholding cadence: employers typically withhold the full monthly OPT from the first paycheck of each month in which you cross the threshold; later checks that month show $0. If you switch worksite cities mid-month, only the city where you cleared the threshold applies.

Denver OPT — the one that affects the most Colorado workers

Denver Revised Municipal Code §53-Art III

Employee share

$5.75 / month

Withheld once per month, usually on the first paycheck of the month.

Employer share

$4.00 / month / employee

Paid by the employer — never appears on your paystub, but factored into total labor cost.

Wage threshold

$500 / month

You owe Denver OPT for any month you earn $500+ working inside Denver city limits.

Denver OPT is not percentage-based — a $50,000 Denver worker and a $500,000 Denver worker both pay the same $5.75/month = $69/year. It's genuinely a flat "you work in Denver" fee.

All 5 Colorado OPT cities — side by side (2026)

Colorado Occupational Privilege Tax rates by city, 2026
City	Employee / month	Employer / month	Combined / month	Monthly wage threshold	Employee cost / year
DenverLargest	$5.75	$4.00	$9.75	$500.00+	$69.00
Aurora	$2.00	$2.00	$4.00	$250.00+	$24.00
Glendale	$5.00	$5.00	$10.00	$750.00+	$60.00
Greenwood Village	$2.00	$2.00	$4.00	$250.00+	$24.00
Sheridan	$3.00	$3.00	$6.00	$500.00+	$36.00

Denver: The original OPT city — largest workforce, most enforcement. Applies to any employee earning $500+ in Denver in a calendar month.
Aurora: Lower rate and lower threshold than Denver; applies to work performed within Aurora city limits.
Glendale: Small enclave city surrounded by Denver — many office workers technically fall under Glendale, not Denver.
Greenwood Village: DTC-area employers withhold this; low rate, low threshold means nearly all full-time workers owe it.
Sheridan: Small city south of Denver; OPT applies to employees working within the city limits.

How Denver OPT is calculated on your paycheck

1. Did you earn $500+ this month inside Denver? If no — $0 OPT. If yes — continue.
2. Withhold $5.75 from one paycheck that month (payroll typically uses the first check of the month).
3. Regardless of gross pay. A $6,000/month Denver worker and a $60,000/month Denver worker both pay exactly $5.75.
4. Annual employee cost: $69.00 — this is your OPT if you work every month in Denver.
5. Multi-city workers: if you work in Denver and Aurora in the same month, both cities' employee OPT is withheld (unlike most local income taxes, OPT does not have a reciprocity rule).

Common Denver OPT edge cases

• Fully remote outside Denver: no OPT owed, even if your employer is HQ'd downtown.
• Hybrid (1–2 days/week in Denver): OPT owed for any month you cross the $500 in-city threshold.
• Under $500 in a month: part-time or new hires who don't hit $500 that month owe $0 for that month only.
• Multiple jobs, one in Denver: only the Denver-based employer withholds OPT; the other doesn't.
• 1099 / self-employed working in Denver: owe the business OPT of $4/month directly to Denver Treasury, not through payroll.
• Denver vs Glendale: Cherry Creek and DTC-adjacent offices often sit in Glendale, not Denver — check your work address, not the mailing city.

Denver OPT — residents vs commuters vs remote workers

Denver OPT is a worksite tax, not a residency tax — where you live is irrelevant. What matters is whether you physically perform work inside Denver city limits and earn $500+ there in the month. That single rule creates three very different outcomes:

Denver OPT liability by residency and work location
Scenario	Lives in	Works in	Denver OPT owed?	Annual employee cost
Denver resident, Denver office	Denver	Denver	Yes — every month over $500	$69.00
Commuter into Denver (5 days/wk)	Boulder, Aurora, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, etc.	Denver	Yes — same as a resident	$69.00
Hybrid commuter (2 days/wk in Denver)	Anywhere in Colorado	Denver + remote	Yes for any month you earn ≥$500 inside Denver	Up to $69.00 (skipped only if under $500 in a given month)
Denver resident, remote for out-of-city employer	Denver	Denver home office	Yes — work performed in Denver still counts, even at home	$69.00 (employer must register with Denver Treasury)
Non-Denver resident, fully remote for a Denver-HQ'd employer	Boulder / Fort Collins / anywhere outside Denver	Their own city (not Denver)	No — work is not physically performed in Denver	$0.00
Occasional visitor (client meetings, <$500/mo in Denver)	Anywhere	Denver a few days that month	No — under the $500 monthly threshold	$0.00

Bottom line: a Boulder commuter and a Denver homeowner working the same downtown job pay the exact same $69/year — OPT does not reward or punish residency. What flips it to $0 is either (a) you don't work in Denver at all in a given month, or (b) your Denver work earnings that month are under $500.

Worked example — Boulder resident commuting to Denver 3 days/week

1. Where they live: Boulder — irrelevant for Denver OPT, but they don't owe Boulder OPT (Boulder has none).
2. Where they work: Denver office 3 days/week (~60% of hours), remote from Boulder 2 days/week.
3. Monthly Denver-source earnings: On a $95,000 salary, monthly gross is ~$7,917 and roughly 60% (~$4,750) is earned inside Denver — well above the $500 threshold every month.
4. Denver OPT withheld: $5.75 once per month, 12 months per year = $69.00/yr — same as a full-time Denver worker.
5. If they drop to 1 Denver day/month (~$400): that month falls under the $500 threshold, so OPT for that month is $0.
6. Boulder side: $0 — Boulder does not levy an OPT, so no additional city head tax applies.

Contrast with the earlier $85,000 Denver-based example: same $69/year outcome, because Denver OPT is a flat per-month fee, not a percentage of wages.

Worked example — $85,000 Denver salary, biweekly

1. Gross monthly wages inside Denver: $85,000 ÷ 12 = $7,083 — well above the $500 threshold.
2. Denver OPT withheld: $5.75 once per month (typically the first biweekly check of each month).
3. The other biweekly check that month has $0 OPT.
4. Annual Denver OPT cost: $5.75 × 12 = $69.00 — roughly 0.08% of a $85k salary.
5. Compare vs Colorado state tax on the same salary: $85,000 × 4.40% ≈ $3,740/yr. OPT is a rounding error next to state tax — but it's a real line item on your paystub.

Sources: Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 53, Article III (Occupational Privilege Tax); Aurora Code §130-166; Glendale Municipal Code Ch. 3.28; Greenwood Village Municipal Code §4-3-30; Sheridan Municipal Code §4-4. Rates confirmed with each city's finance department for the 2026 tax year. Because OPT is a flat monthly amount, the main calculator on this page shows Colorado state and federal withholding — this section explains the small city-level line-item you'll see once per month if you work in one of these five cities.

Statutory sources — Denver OPT and other Colorado city OPTs

Every rate, threshold, and taxable-wage definition used on this page maps to the ordinance and administering department below. Links point to the current codified ordinance (Municode / American Legal) and the city finance department that publishes the OPT return.

City	Employee / employer fee	Threshold & wage definition	Ordinance & administering authority
Denver	$5.75 / $4.00 per month	$500+ in gross compensation for services performed within Denver in a calendar month. Taxable wages = all compensation earned for Denver-sourced work (no pre-tax reduction).	D.R.M.C. Ch. 53, Art. III §§ 53-241 to 53-267 · Denver Dept. of Finance, Treasury Division
Aurora	$2.00 / $2.00 per month	$250+ in gross earnings for services performed within Aurora in a calendar month. Applies to work performed inside city limits regardless of employer HQ.	Aurora City Code Ch. 130, Art. VI §§ 130-161 to 130-176 · Aurora Tax & Licensing Division
Glendale	$5.00 / $5.00 per month	$750+ in gross earnings for services performed within Glendale in a calendar month. Covers many DTC/Cherry Creek offices that appear to be "Denver" by mailing address.	Glendale Municipal Code Ch. 3.28 (Occupational Privilege Tax) · Glendale Finance Department
Greenwood Village	$2.00 / $2.00 per month	$250+ in gross earnings for services performed within Greenwood Village in a calendar month. Most Denver Tech Center employees fall under this ordinance, not Denver's.	Greenwood Village Municipal Code Ch. 4, Art. III §§ 4-3-10 to 4-3-90 · Greenwood Village Finance Department
Sheridan	$3.00 / $3.00 per month	$500+ in gross earnings for services performed within Sheridan in a calendar month. Applies to River Point and other Sheridan-based worksites.	Sheridan Municipal Code Ch. 4, Art. IV (Occupational Privilege Tax) · City of Sheridan Finance Department

Taxable wage definition used on this page

All five ordinances measure the threshold against gross compensation for services performed within the city. OPT is not reduced by pre-tax 401(k), HSA, Section 125 cafeteria-plan deductions, or the Colorado DR 0004 allowance — the fee is flat per month whenever the threshold is met. This matches the "flat fee, no wage scaling" behavior modeled in the calculator above.

Statewide authority & scope

Colorado home-rule authority for local occupational taxes flows from Colo. Const. Art. XX, §6. Colorado has no statewide local income tax under C.R.S. Title 39 — Denver OPT and the four other city OPTs are the only city-level payroll charges on wages.

Rate and threshold values above were verified against each city's 2026 OPT return instructions. If a city amends its ordinance mid-year, the calculator's monthly fee and threshold update on the next release.

Denver / Colorado OPT eligibility checker

Do I owe Denver, Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, or Sheridan OPT?

Answer three questions — worksite city, residency, and how often you physically work inside that city — to see whether OPT applies and what it costs per month and per year.

1. Worksite city (where you physically work)

Only these five Colorado cities levy an OPT. If your worksite isn't listed, choose "None / outside CO."

2. Residency (where you live)

Residency is not a factor for OPT — this question just confirms the worksite rule for you.

3. Commute pattern

4. Monthly gross earnings from this job

$/ month

Used to check whether the in-city earnings clear the monthly threshold ($500.00 for Denver).

OPT applies

Verdict for Denver

You clear Denver's $500.00 monthly threshold, so $5.75 is withheld once per month (typically the first paycheck of the month). Residency in Denver does not change this — OPT follows the worksite, not the home address.

Estimated in-city earnings

$5,000.00/mo

Threshold: $500.00

Monthly OPT withheld

$5.75

Employee share, flat fee

Annual OPT (12 mo)

$69.00

If threshold met every month

• OPT is a flat monthly fee — it does not scale with salary, filing status, or pre-tax deductions.
• If you work in two OPT cities in the same month and clear both thresholds, both cities' employee OPT is withheld.
• Estimates only — payroll uses your actual worksite records. Confirm with your employer if you split time across cities.

Denver OPT vs other Colorado city OPTs — take-home comparison

Compare Denver OPT against another Colorado city OPT

Denver OPT is a flat $5.75/month ($69/year) once you earn $500+ inside Denver. Pick another OPT city (Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Sheridan) — or "None" — to see the monthly and annual take-home difference at the same gross pay. Toggle Denver OPT off to model a sub-$500 or non-Denver month.

Monthly gross pay (before OPT)

Example presets: $4,167 ($50k/yr) · $7,083 ($85k/yr) · $12,500 ($150k/yr).

Denver OPT

On — withholding $5.75/month

Turn off to simulate a month you didn't clear the $500 in-Denver threshold, or a fully remote month worked from outside Denver.

Compare against

Aurora Municipal Code §130-102 — $2.00/mo employee, $250 monthly threshold.

With Denver OPT

Denver monthly take-home: $7,077.25

Monthly take-home after $5.75 OPT

Denver annual take-home: $84,927.00/yr

Annual take-home after $69/yr OPT

With Aurora OPT

Aurora monthly take-home: $7,081.00

Monthly take-home after $2.00 OPT

Aurora annual take-home: $84,972.00/yr

Annual take-home after $24.00/yr OPT

Detailed breakdown — how the annual OPT is derived

Step 1 — Taxable wages
Gross compensation for services performed inside Denver this month: $7,083.00.
OPT is measured on gross in-Denver earnings — no reduction for pre-tax 401(k), HSA, or Section 125 cafeteria-plan deductions. Only wages tied to work physically performed in Denver count toward this figure.
Step 2 — Threshold check
Compare taxable wages to Denver's $500 monthly threshold: $7,083.00 ≥ $500 → threshold met. OPT applies for this month.
The threshold is evaluated per calendar month, per employer, per city. Denver's is $500; Aurora and Greenwood Village use $250, Sheridan $500, Glendale $750.
Step 3 — Monthly OPT amount
Flat employee fee for a qualifying Denver month: $5.75. With the toggle currently on, this month's OPT withholding is $5.75.
OPT does not stack per paycheck — payroll withholds the $5.75 once, usually on the first check of the month, and $0 on any other checks that same month.
Step 4 — Annual total
Annual OPT = monthly OPT × qualifying months = $5.75 × 12 = $69.00 per year (assuming the threshold is met every month).
Any month you fall under the $500 threshold — unpaid leave, part-time hours, or a switch to a non-Denver worksite — drops that month's $5.75 to $0 and lowers the annual total accordingly. See the 12-month worked example below for a mixed scenario.

Line	Value	Source
Monthly taxable wages (in-Denver)	$7,083.00	Input above
Denver monthly threshold	$500.00	D.R.M.C. Ch. 53, Art. III
Threshold met this month?	Yes	Wages ≥ threshold
Employee OPT fee	$5.75 / month	Denver employee OPT rate (2026)
Monthly OPT withheld (toggle on)	$5.75	Step 3
Annual OPT withheld	$69.00	Monthly OPT × 12

Difference: Denver OPT vs Aurora

Currently: OPT on

Per month (Denver − Aurora)

−$3.75

Per year (Denver − Aurora)

−$45.00

Your active take-home

$7,077.25/mo · $84,927.00/yr

All five Colorado city OPTs are flat monthly fees, so the delta is constant at every salary above each city's threshold — only the baseline take-home moves with your monthly gross. A positive value means a Denver worker takes home more than a Aurora worker (Denver's OPT is lower); a negative value means Denver takes home less. For the full CO / federal / FICA / FAMLI stack, use the main calculator at the top of this page.

Worked example — the $500 Denver OPT threshold across a full year

Month-by-month: how dropping under $500 in-Denver earnings zeros out that month's OPT

Denver OPT is evaluated per calendar month, per employer. A month is either "OPT month" ($5.75 withheld once) or "no-OPT month" ($0) — there is no proration and no partial fee. Below is a realistic 12-month scenario for a Denver-based worker whose worksite and hours shift during the year.

Month	Worksite	In-Denver earnings	Meets $500?	Denver OPT withheld	Why
Jan	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Full-time in Denver — well above the $500 threshold.
Feb	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Full-time in Denver — threshold met.
Mar	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Full-time in Denver — threshold met.
Apr	Denver (partial)	$400.00	No	$0.00	Only 1 short trip into Denver this month; earnings inside the city were $400 — under the $500 threshold, so no Denver OPT is withheld.
May	Boulder (remote)	$0.00	No	$0.00	Worked fully remote from Boulder — no work performed in Denver, so no Denver OPT (Boulder has no OPT either).
Jun	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Returned to the Denver office — threshold met, $5.75 withheld.
Jul	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Threshold met.
Aug	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Threshold met.
Sep	Denver (PTO)	$480.00	No	$0.00	Took 3 weeks of unpaid leave; in-Denver earnings dropped to $480 — under $500, so no OPT this month.
Oct	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Back to full schedule — threshold met.
Nov	Denver	$5,200.00	Yes	$5.75	Threshold met.
Dec	Aurora (transfer)	$0.00	No	$0.00	Job transferred to Aurora office; no Denver work → no Denver OPT. Aurora OPT ($2.00) would apply separately if Aurora earnings exceed $250.
Annual total				$46.00	8 of 12 months withheld — $23.00 saved vs a naive $69/yr assumption.

Denver worksite month — threshold cleared

1. You worked inside Denver and earned $5,200 there this month.
2. $5,200 ≥ $500 threshold → OPT applies.
3. Payroll withholds $5.75 once (usually the first paycheck of the month).
4. Any additional paychecks that month show $0 OPT — the fee doesn't stack per check.

Denver worksite month — threshold missed

1. You made one short site visit to Denver; in-Denver earnings that month were $400.
2. $400 < $500 threshold → OPT does not apply for this month.
3. Withholding: $0.
4. Next month, if you clear $500 again, the $5.75 restarts — the threshold resets every calendar month.

Non-Denver worksite month (Boulder remote)

1. All work performed outside Denver (remote from Boulder).
2. In-Denver earnings for the month: $0. Denver's worksite rule fails on step 0.
3. Denver OPT: $0 — regardless of employer HQ or your salary.
4. Boulder is not an OPT city, so no substitute head tax applies.

Non-Denver worksite month (Aurora transfer)

1. Job transferred to an Aurora office. No Denver work performed this month.
2. Denver OPT: $0.
3. Aurora OPT is a separate ordinance — $2.00/month if Aurora-source earnings ≥ $250.
4. A worksite change mid-year swaps which city's OPT applies going forward; it does not carry over.

Bottom line: for this 12-month scenario the worker owed OPT in 8 months, not 12 — annual Denver OPT was $46.00 instead of the naive $69.00. If your job splits time across cities or you have low-earnings months, the eligibility checker above and the toggle widget make it easy to test your own scenario.

Colorado city OPT — frequently asked questions

Denver OPT and Colorado city Occupational Privilege Tax — FAQ

Answers to the most common Denver, Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, and Sheridan OPT questions. This section is marked up with Schema.org FAQPage JSON-LD so Google can surface it as a rich result on the Colorado paycheck calculator page.

What is the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT) and how much is withheld from my paycheck?: Denver OPT — the “Denver head tax” under Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 53, Article III — is a flat $5.75 per month withheld from any employee who earns $500 or more working inside Denver city limits during a calendar month. The employer separately pays $4.00 per month per covered employee. OPT is NOT a percentage of wages: a $50,000 Denver worker and a $500,000 Denver worker each pay $5.75/month = $69.00/year. It is typically withheld from the first paycheck of each month and skipped on the remaining checks in that month.
Which Colorado cities charge an Occupational Privilege Tax besides Denver?: Five Colorado cities levy an OPT in 2026: Denver ($5.75 employee / $4.00 employer per month, $500 monthly threshold), Aurora ($2.00 / $2.00, $250 threshold), Glendale ($5.00 / $5.00, $750 threshold), Greenwood Village ($2.00 / $2.00, $250 threshold), and Sheridan ($3.00 / $3.00, $500 threshold). No other Colorado city — including Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Lakewood — imposes an OPT. Cherry Creek and DTC office buildings often sit inside Glendale rather than Denver, so verify your worksite address before assuming which city’s OPT applies.
Do commuters or remote workers owe Denver OPT?: OPT follows the worksite, not residency. A Boulder or Aurora resident who commutes into a Denver office owes Denver OPT for any month they earn $500+ working inside Denver. A Denver resident who works fully remote for an out-of-city employer owes no Denver OPT because no work is performed inside Denver. Remote work from a Denver home for a Denver employer DOES trigger OPT once the employee earns $500 in-city that month. Hybrid workers owe the full $5.75 in any month they cross the $500 in-city threshold — the tax does not prorate by days worked in Denver.
What happens to Colorado OPT if I earn less than the monthly threshold?: If your in-city earnings for a calendar month fall below the city’s threshold ($500 for Denver and Sheridan, $250 for Aurora and Greenwood Village, $750 for Glendale), no OPT is withheld from either the employee or the employer for that month. Part-time, seasonal, and low-hour workers often skip OPT some months and owe it in others. Multiple part-time jobs inside the same city are evaluated per employer — the threshold is not aggregated across employers.
Does Colorado OPT change with salary, filing status, or 401(k) contributions?: No. OPT is a fixed monthly dollar amount, not a percentage of wages. It does not scale with salary, does not vary by W-4 or DR 0004 filing status, and is not reduced by pre-tax 401(k), HSA, or Section 125 deductions. The only variable is whether you crossed the city’s monthly earnings threshold. That is why Denver OPT costs the same $69/year for a $60,000 worker and a $600,000 worker — the only city payroll charge in Colorado that behaves this way.
How is Denver OPT different from Colorado FAMLI and the 4.40% state income tax?: Three completely separate charges appear on a Denver paystub. (1) Colorado state income tax — 4.40% flat under C.R.S. §39-22-104, administered by CDOR, scales with wages. (2) FAMLI — 0.45% employee premium on wages up to the $184,500 SSA wage base under C.R.S. §8-13.3, administered by CDLE, funds paid family and medical leave. (3) Denver OPT — $5.75 flat per month under Denver Municipal Code Ch. 53, administered by Denver’s Treasury Division, funds general city services. OPT is by far the smallest of the three and applies only in five Colorado cities.

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Enter gross pay, not net — here's the difference

Gross pay is your salary or hourly rate before any tax or deduction — the top-line number on your offer letter. Net pay (take-home) is what actually lands in your bank account after federal tax, Colorado state tax, FICA, and pre-tax deductions come out. Type the gross figure into the calculator; it does the rest.

Gross salary

$35,000

Net / year

$28,763

Federal tax: −$2,020
CO state tax: −$1,540
Net / biweekly: $1,106

Gross salary

$50,000

Net / year

$40,155

Federal tax: −$3,820
CO state tax: −$2,200
Net / biweekly: $1,544

Gross salary

$75,000

Net / year

$58,293

Federal tax: −$7,670
CO state tax: −$3,300
Net / biweekly: $2,242

Gross salary

$100,000

Net / year

$74,780

Federal tax: −$13,170
CO state tax: −$4,400
Net / biweekly: $2,876

Gross salary

$150,000

Net / year

$107,191

Federal tax: −$24,734
CO state tax: −$6,600
Net / biweekly: $4,123

Gross vs. net Colorado salary examples for 2026 (single filer, no pre-tax deductions).
Gross salary (enter this)	Federal tax	CO state tax	Net (annual)	Net per biweekly check
$35,000	−$2,020	−$1,540	$28,763	$1,106
$50,000	−$3,820	−$2,200	$40,155	$1,544
$75,000	−$7,670	−$3,300	$58,293	$2,242
$100,000	−$13,170	−$4,400	$74,780	$2,876
$150,000	−$24,734	−$6,600	$107,191	$4,123

2026 rates, single filer, no pre-tax 401(k)/HSA/health. Net also reflects Social Security 6.2% (up to $184,500), Medicare 1.45%, and Colorado state withholding at Flat 4.40% income tax.

• Salaried? Enter your annual gross ($75,000 in the example above) and pick Annual.
• Hourly? Enter your hourly rate (e.g. $25/hr) and hours per week — the calculator annualizes for you.
• Paid biweekly? Enter your biweekly gross (e.g. $2,885) and pick Biweekly. Do not enter your take-home from your last stub.
• Add pre-tax deductions (401(k) %, HSA, health premiums) in the deduction fields — the calculator subtracts them before federal and Colorado state tax.

Colorado Tax Information 2026

State Income Tax	Flat 4.40%
Federal Brackets	10% / 12% / 22% / 24% / 32% / 35% / 37%
Social Security	6.2% up to $184,500
Medicare	1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000)
Standard Deduction (single)	$15,000

Flat 4.40% income tax.

Common Colorado Salaries — Take-Home Estimates

Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, 2026 rates.

Annual	Federal	CO State	Net Biweekly	Net Annual
$35,000	$2,020	$1,540	$1,106	$28,763
$50,000	$3,820	$2,200	$1,544	$40,155
$75,000	$7,670	$3,300	$2,242	$58,293
$100,000	$13,170	$4,400	$2,876	$74,780
$150,000	$24,734	$6,600	$4,123	$107,191

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How we calculate your Colorado paycheck

Enter gross pay — your salary or hourly wage before any taxes or deductions come out. The calculator does the pre-tax math for you; do not subtract your 401(k), HSA, or health premiums first. The 2026 engine then runs the same six-step pipeline for every Colorado paycheck:

1. Annualize gross wages. Weekly × 52, biweekly × 26, semimonthly × 24, or monthly × 12 — so all withholding tables see the same annual figure.
2. Subtract pre-tax deductions. Traditional 401(k)/403(b), HSA, FSA, and Section 125 health/dental/vision premiums are removed from federal and Colorado state taxable income. Roth 401(k) and after-tax deductions are not subtracted here.
3. Apply 2026 federal income tax. IRS brackets 10%–37%, standard deduction, and your W-4 filing status and dependents.
4. Withhold FICA. Social Security 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, plus Medicare 1.45% on all wages and an additional 0.9% Medicare on wages above $200,000. FICA applies to 401(k) contributions but not to Section 125 or HSA.
5. Apply Colorado state and local tax. Flat 4.40% income tax. These rates apply to your post-pre-tax-deduction wages using your state withholding certificate. Local layer: Denver, Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, and Sheridan levy a flat Occupational Privilege Tax ($2–$5.75/month per employee) on employees earning above a threshold in that city.
6. Subtract post-tax items. Roth contributions, garnishments, and voluntary post-tax benefits reduce net pay but do not lower taxable income. The remainder is your take-home, which the calculator divides back by pay frequency for per-check net.

Results are estimates for 2026 W-2 wages and are not a substitute for Form W-4, your Colorado withholding certificate, or advice from a licensed tax professional.

Keep exploring Colorado paycheck math with related calculators from US State Paycheck Calculator:

Colorado paycheck FAQs

Flat 4.40% income tax. US State Paycheck Calculator applies these brackets to your taxable wages after pre-tax deductions.

The Colorado paycheck pipeline is: (1) annualize gross wages, (2) subtract pre-tax deductions (traditional 401(k), HSA, Section 125 health/dental/vision), (3) apply 2026 federal brackets 10%–37%, (4) apply Colorado flat 4.40% on wages after pre-tax and the Colorado allowance ($5,500 single / $11,000 joint 2026 default, or your DR 0004 Line 2 override), (5) withhold FICA — 6.2% Social Security to $184,500 + 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% additional Medicare above $200,000, (6) withhold 0.45% FAMLI on wages to $184,500, (7) if you work in Denver/Aurora/Glendale/Greenwood Village/Sheridan and hit the monthly threshold, subtract $2–$5.75 city OPT once per month. What's left is your Colorado net paycheck.