Government Jobs in Colorado: Employers & Pay

3,670

local governments (2022)

counties

270

cities, towns and townships

3,158

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Colorado state government pay plan

Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, Division of Human Resources (DHR) publishes the classification and pay plan for Colorado state employees: 770 job classes and 162 pay grades, effective July 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the CO plan	Annual range
Accountant (government)	Accountant I–IV 4 classes	$59,460 – $147,588
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant Intern, Administrative Assistant I–III 4 classes	$34,776 – $71,904
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Hearings Officer I–III, Administrative Law Judge I–III 6 classes	$53,940 – $170,856
Budget Analyst	Budget Analyst I–II, Budget & Policy Analyst III–V 5 classes	$62,436 – $170,856
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Engineer-in-Training I–III, Professional Engineer I–IV 7 classes	$69,720 – $194,208
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Purchasing Agent I–VII, Contract Administrator I–VI 13 classes	$46,584 – $170,856
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional/Youth/Clinical Security Officer I–V 4 classes	$58,068 – $108,960
Court Reporter (official)	Hearings Reporter 1 class	$62,436 – $87,408
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Scientist I–VI 6 classes	$60,972 – $168,996
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodian I–IV 4 classes	$40,248 – $83,244
Detective / Criminal Investigator	Criminal Investigator I–VI, Special Agent I–VI 12 classes	$60,972 – $168,996
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Driver's License Examiners I–V 5 classes	$42,264 – $96,360
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Protection Specialist I–V 5 classes	$66,396 – $167,748
Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal	Fire Marshal Trainee, Fire Marshal I–VIII 9 classes	$64,032 – $168,996
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Equipment Mechanic I–IV 4 classes	$48,912 – $87,408
Government Auditor	Auditor I–V 5 classes	$56,628 – $170,856
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Specialist I–VI 6 classes	$48,912 – $154,968
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator I–IV 4 classes	$38,328 – $83,244
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Transportation Maintenance I–III 3 classes	$53,940 – $87,408
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resources Specialist I–VII 7 classes	$48,912 – $170,856
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Tax Examiner I–V, Revenue Agent Intern, +2 more 13 classes	$48,912 – $133,848
IT Specialist (government)	IT Business Analyst I–VI, Information Technology I–VII 13 classes	$59,424 – $197,292
Parole Officer	Community Parole Officer 1 class	$67,212 – $94,128
Policy / Management Analyst	Policy Advisor I–VII 7 classes	$48,912 – $170,856
Social Worker (government)	Social Services Specialist I–VI 6 classes	$48,912 – $162,708
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	State Patrol Trooper Cadet, State Patrol Trooper I–III 4 classes	$86,064 – $134,352
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation Counselor I–II 2 classes	$65,556 – $115,632
Wildland Firefighter	Firefighter Trainee, Firefighter I–VIII 9 classes	$52,668 – $168,996

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, Division of Human Resources (DHR), State of Colorado Pay Plan FY 2026-27 — Pay Plan with Steps, State Troopers and Medical Pay Plan. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Colorado

Fire departments · 169

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Denver Fire Department	Denver	914	Official site
South Metro Fire Rescue Authority	Centennial	560	Official site
Colorado Springs Fire Department	Colorado Springs	427	Official site
Aurora Fire Department	Aurora	349	Official site
West Metro Fire Rescue	Lakewood	340	Official site
Poudre Fire Authority	Fort Collins	176	Official site
Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control	Lakewood	160	Official site
Arvada Fire Protection District	Arvada	141	Official site
Pueblo Fire Department	Pueblo	140	Official site
Westminster Fire Department	Westminster	140	Official site

All 169 fire departments in Colorado →

Transit agencies · 39

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Denver Regional Transportation District	Denver	427	Official site
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority	Glenwood Springs	97	Official site
Town of Mountain Village	Telluride	75	Official site
Northeastern Colorado Association of Local Governments	Fort Morgan	60	Official site
City of Fort Collins	Fort Collins	32	Official site
Summit County	Breckenridge	31	Official site
Town of Vail	Vail	27	Official site
Eagle County	Eagle	25	Official site
City of Steamboat Springs	Steamboat Springs	24	Official site
Greeley, City Of	Greeley	24	Official site

All 39 transit agencies in Colorado →

School districts · 178

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C	Denver	6,007	Official site
Jefferson County School District No. R-1	Golden	4,414	Official site
Douglas County School District No. Re 1	Castle Rock	3,515	Official site
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah	Greenwood Village	3,213	Official site
Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A	Aurora	2,338	Official site
Adams 12 Five Star Schools	Thornton	1,998	Official site
St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J	Longmont	1,957	Official site
Poudre School District R-1	Fort Collins	1,875	Official site
Boulder Valley School District No. Re2	Boulder	1,592	Official site
Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an	Colorado Springs	1,570	Official site

All 178 school districts in Colorado →

Police departments · 158

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 158 police departments in Colorado →

Sheriff's offices · 62

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 62 sheriff's offices in Colorado →

Campus police departments · 12

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 12 campus police departments in Colorado →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Colorado

Median wage in Colorado for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in CO	Median in CO	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	54,490	$100,260	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	54,490	$100,260	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	54,490	$100,260	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	54,490	$100,260	$100,490
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	45,670	$92,520	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	45,670	$92,520	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	45,670	$92,520	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	45,670	$92,520	$91,060
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	41,870	$131,840	$137,300
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	38,770	$47,540	$45,860
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	35,410	$97,030	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	35,410	$97,030	$81,390
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	34,220	$38,600	$39,640
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	31,770	$53,550	$46,170
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	29,120	$48,690	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	29,120	$48,690	$48,290
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	24,860	$63,410	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	24,860	$63,410	$65,310
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	21,990	$45,760	$40,080
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	21,910	$35,760	$36,990
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	19,450	$80,840	$80,330
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	18,310	$72,900	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	18,310	$72,900	$74,220
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	16,720	$168,520	$134,680
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney SOC 23-1011	16,720	$168,520	$134,680
Public Defender SOC 23-1011	16,720	$168,520	$134,680
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	14,360	$104,750	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	14,360	$104,750	$96,570
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county) SOC 17-2051	13,290	$101,420	$108,820
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	13,280	$63,760	$65,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Colorado