Counties in Colorado by wages and salaries paid

Denver County had the highest wages and salaries paid of 64 counties in 2021, at $48.65 billion. Hinsdale County had the lowest, at $10.97 million. The median was $274.27 million and the figure for Colorado was $205.56 billion. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest48,650.8Denver County
Median274.364 counties
Colorado205,564.3History

Map of counties, 2021

Adams County: 15,775.7 USD millionAlamosa County: 401.4 USD millionArapahoe County: 27,767.9 USD millionArchuleta County: 199.4 USD millionBaca County: 51.5 USD millionBent County: 53.6 USD millionBoulder County: 16,744.5 USD millionBroomfield County: 4,488.6 USD millionChaffee County: 419.7 USD millionCheyenne County: 40.2 USD millionClear Creek County: 175.1 USD millionConejos County: 66.3 USD millionCostilla County: 37.6 USD millionCrowley County: 59.1 USD millionCuster County: 40.6 USD millionDelta County: 373.7 USD millionDenver County: 48,650.8 USD millionDolores County: 23.3 USD millionDouglas County: 11,218.7 USD millionEagle County: 2,023.2 USD millionElbert County: 240.1 USD millionEl Paso County: 21,036.6 USD millionFremont County: 731.2 USD millionGarfield County: 1,532.5 USD millionGilpin County: 300 USD millionGrand County: 377.1 USD millionGunnison County: 445 USD millionHinsdale County: 11 USD millionHuerfano County: 78 USD millionJackson County: 26.4 USD millionJefferson County: 17,684.6 USD millionKiowa County: 29.4 USD millionKit Carson County: 133.2 USD millionLake County: 131.6 USD millionLa Plata County: 1,476.6 USD millionLarimer County: 10,846.6 USD millionLas Animas County: 235.5 USD millionLincoln County: 111 USD millionLogan County: 399.6 USD millionMesa County: 3,441.3 USD millionMineral County: 23.2 USD millionMoffat County: 258.2 USD millionMontezuma County: 441.2 USD millionMontrose County: 778.4 USD millionMorgan County: 676.8 USD millionOtero County: 290.3 USD millionOuray County: 112.8 USD millionPark County: 143.4 USD millionPhillips County: 75.9 USD millionPitkin County: 1,143.1 USD millionProwers County: 189.8 USD millionPueblo County: 3,369.9 USD millionRio Blanco County: 167.7 USD millionRio Grande County: 202.7 USD millionRoutt County: 873.1 USD millionSaguache County: 75.3 USD millionSan Juan County: 13.8 USD millionSan Miguel County: 312.7 USD millionSedgwick County: 36.6 USD millionSummit County: 1,154.7 USD millionTeller County: 379.1 USD millionWashington County: 56.5 USD millionWeld County: 6,693.9 USD millionYuma County: 202.4 USD million
  • Under 100
  • 100 to 300
  • 300 to 400
  • 400 to 3,400
  • 3,400 and over
USD million, 2021. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Denver County: 48,650.8 USD millionDenver County48,650.8Arapahoe County: 27,767.9 USD millionArapahoe County27,767.9El Paso County: 21,036.6 USD millionEl Paso County21,036.6Jefferson County: 17,684.6 USD millionJefferson County17,684.6Boulder County: 16,744.5 USD millionBoulder County16,744.5Adams County: 15,775.7 USD millionAdams County15,775.7Douglas County: 11,218.7 USD millionDouglas County11,218.7Larimer County: 10,846.6 USD millionLarimer County10,846.6Weld County: 6,693.9 USD millionWeld County6,693.9Broomfield County: 4,488.6 USD millionBroomfield County4,488.6Mesa County: 3,441.3 USD millionMesa County3,441.3Pueblo County: 3,369.9 USD millionPueblo County3,369.9Eagle County: 2,023.2 USD millionEagle County2,023.2Garfield County: 1,532.5 USD millionGarfield County1,532.5La Plata County: 1,476.6 USD millionLa Plata County1,476.6Summit County: 1,154.7 USD millionSummit County1,154.7Pitkin County: 1,143.1 USD millionPitkin County1,143.1Routt County: 873.1 USD millionRoutt County873.1Montrose County: 778.4 USD millionMontrose County778.4Fremont County: 731.2 USD millionFremont County731.2Morgan County: 676.8 USD millionMorgan County676.8Gunnison County: 445 USD millionGunnison County445Montezuma County: 441.2 USD millionMontezuma County441.2Chaffee County: 419.7 USD millionChaffee County419.7Alamosa County: 401.4 USD millionAlamosa County401.4Logan County: 399.6 USD millionLogan County399.6Teller County: 379.1 USD millionTeller County379.1Grand County: 377.1 USD millionGrand County377.1Delta County: 373.7 USD millionDelta County373.7San Miguel County: 312.7 USD millionSan Miguel County312.7Gilpin County: 300 USD millionGilpin County300Otero County: 290.3 USD millionOtero County290.3Moffat County: 258.2 USD millionMoffat County258.2Elbert County: 240.1 USD millionElbert County240.1Las Animas County: 235.5 USD millionLas Animas County235.5Rio Grande County: 202.7 USD millionRio Grande County202.7Yuma County: 202.4 USD millionYuma County202.4Archuleta County: 199.4 USD millionArchuleta County199.4Prowers County: 189.8 USD millionProwers County189.8Clear Creek County: 175.1 USD millionClear Creek County175.1Denver County: 48,650.8 USD millionDenver County48,650.8Arapahoe County: 27,767.9 USD millionArapahoe County27,767.9El Paso County: 21,036.6 USD millionEl Paso County21,036.6Jefferson County: 17,684.6 USD millionJefferson County17,684.6Boulder County: 16,744.5 USD millionBoulder County16,744.5Adams County: 15,775.7 USD millionAdams County15,775.7Douglas County: 11,218.7 USD millionDouglas County11,218.7Larimer County: 10,846.6 USD millionLarimer County10,846.6Weld County: 6,693.9 USD millionWeld County6,693.9Broomfield County: 4,488.6 USD millionBroomfield County4,488.6Mesa County: 3,441.3 USD millionMesa County3,441.3Pueblo County: 3,369.9 USD millionPueblo County3,369.9Eagle County: 2,023.2 USD millionEagle County2,023.2Garfield County: 1,532.5 USD millionGarfield County1,532.5La Plata County: 1,476.6 USD millionLa Plata County1,476.6Summit County: 1,154.7 USD millionSummit County1,154.7Pitkin County: 1,143.1 USD millionPitkin County1,143.1Routt County: 873.1 USD millionRoutt County873.1Montrose County: 778.4 USD millionMontrose County778.4Fremont County: 731.2 USD millionFremont County731.2Morgan County: 676.8 USD millionMorgan County676.8Gunnison County: 445 USD millionGunnison County445Montezuma County: 441.2 USD millionMontezuma County441.2Chaffee County: 419.7 USD millionChaffee County419.7Alamosa County: 401.4 USD millionAlamosa County401.4Logan County: 399.6 USD millionLogan County399.6Teller County: 379.1 USD millionTeller County379.1Grand County: 377.1 USD millionGrand County377.1Delta County: 373.7 USD millionDelta County373.7San Miguel County: 312.7 USD millionSan Miguel County312.7Gilpin County: 300 USD millionGilpin County300Otero County: 290.3 USD millionOtero County290.3Moffat County: 258.2 USD millionMoffat County258.2Elbert County: 240.1 USD millionElbert County240.1Las Animas County: 235.5 USD millionLas Animas County235.5Rio Grande County: 202.7 USD millionRio Grande County202.7Yuma County: 202.4 USD millionYuma County202.4Archuleta County: 199.4 USD millionArchuleta County199.4Prowers County: 189.8 USD millionProwers County189.8Clear Creek County: 175.1 USD millionClear Creek County175.1
USD million. Source: BEA, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021
USD million
Change on 2020
1Denver County48,650.8+12.7%
2Arapahoe County27,767.9+6.5%
3El Paso County21,036.6+8.1%
4Jefferson County17,684.6+6.4%
5Boulder County16,744.5+11.7%
6Adams County15,775.7+9.6%
7Douglas County11,218.7+14.5%
8Larimer County10,846.6+8.7%
9Weld County6,693.9+2.8%
10Broomfield County4,488.6+10.2%
11Mesa County3,441.3+7.8%
12Pueblo County3,369.9+4.7%
13Eagle County2,023.2+11.7%
14Garfield County1,532.5+7.2%
15La Plata County1,476.6+8.7%
16Summit County1,154.7+11.5%
17Pitkin County1,143.1+13.8%
18Routt County873.1+9.4%
19Montrose County778.4+7.3%
20Fremont County731.2+6.8%
21Morgan County676.8+4.4%
22Gunnison County445+11%
23Montezuma County441.2+12.4%
24Chaffee County419.7+12.4%
25Alamosa County401.4+7.5%
26Logan County399.6+5.4%
27Teller County379.1+8.4%
28Grand County377.1+15.4%
29Delta County373.7+2.3%
30San Miguel County312.7+16.6%
31Gilpin County300+25.9%
32Otero County290.3+2%
33Moffat County258.2-2.5%
34Elbert County240.1+17.5%
35Las Animas County235.5+4.8%
36Rio Grande County202.7+5.7%
37Yuma County202.4+3.9%
38Archuleta County199.4+7%
39Prowers County189.8+5%
40Clear Creek County175.1+9%
41Rio Blanco County167.7+4.5%
42Park County143.4+13.7%
43Kit Carson County133.2+3.5%
44Lake County131.6+11.6%
45Ouray County112.8+29.3%
46Lincoln County111+4.6%
47Huerfano County78+8.7%
48Phillips County75.9+0.5%
49Saguache County75.3+8.5%
50Conejos County66.3+7.8%
51Crowley County59.1+7.3%
52Washington County56.5+5.1%
53Bent County53.6+4.2%
54Baca County51.5+3.7%
55Custer County40.6+18.7%
56Cheyenne County40.2+4.9%
57Costilla County37.6+7.6%
58Sedgwick County36.6+5.1%
59Kiowa County29.4+3.2%
60Jackson County26.4+7.9%
61Dolores County23.3+6.1%
62Mineral County23.2+14%
63San Juan County13.8+26.8%
64Hinsdale County11+7.6%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total wages and salaries paid to employees for jobs located in a place, including tips, bonuses and pay in kind, before deductions, in millions of current US dollars. United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, table SAINC4 line 50 for the nation and states and CAINC4 line 50 for counties.

Counted where the jobs are, not where the workers live, so places with many commuters coming in can pay more in wages than their residents receive in personal income (the District of Columbia does). Excludes employer contributions to pensions, insurance and social security, and the income of the self-employed.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026). CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents (Counties in Colorado by wages and salaries paid, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip

MLA 9

CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in Colorado by wages and salaries paid, 2021. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5 Feb. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/colorado-counties?period=2021. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Counties in Colorado by wages and salaries paid, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/colorado-counties?period=2021.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in Colorado by wages and salaries paid, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/colorado-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_colorado_by_2021,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in Colorado by wages and salaries paid, 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/colorado-counties?period=2021. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in Colorado by wages and salaries paid, 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/05
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/colorado-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/wages-and-salaries/colorado-counties?period=2021.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC4.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest wages and salaries paid?

Denver County, with $48.65 billion in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest wages and salaries paid?

Hinsdale County, with $10.97 million in 2021.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4: personal income by major component, wages and salaries (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Wages and salaries paid: other rankings

Counties in Colorado: more rankings