Use our Denver paycheck calculator to estimate real take-home pay after federal, Colorado and Denver taxes. See salary or hourly pay, overtime, RTD benefits, bonuses and rent impact per paycheck or annually—built for how Denver pay stubs actually work—simple, fast and practical.

Income & Hours

Salary

Hourly (Denver)

Annual Salary ($)

Pay Frequency

Bonus (This Paycheck Only)

Federal Filing Status

Denver Living PRO

Work Location

RTD / Commuter Benefit ($ per month)

Pre-Tax

401(k) / Pre-Tax (%)

Health Insurance ($ per check)

Monthly Rent ($) See affordability

Per Paycheck

Annual Summary

Estimated Take Home Pay

$0.00

per paycheck

Gross & Pre-Tax

Gross Pay $0.00

401k/Retirement -$0.00

RTD / Commuter -$0.00

Health/Dental -$0.00

Taxable Income $0.00

Taxes & Withholdings

Federal Tax -$0.00

FICA (SS + Medicare) -$0.00

Colorado State Tax (4.4%) -$0.00

CO FAMLI (0.45%) -$0.00

Denver OPT -$0.00

Estimates assume standard employer payroll setup. Actual paychecks may vary slightly based on specific withholding choices.

The Denver Paycheck Calculator is a web-based computation tool designed to estimate net pay (take-home pay) for employees working in Denver or other parts of Colorado. It processes gross income data through a sequence of federal, state, and local tax logic to produce a detailed breakdown of earnings and withholdings.

This tool functions by converting user-defined inputs—such as annual salary, hourly wages, and pay frequency—into tax and deduction metrics. It accounts for specific regional factors, including the Colorado state income tax, the Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) premium, and the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT). The calculator provides outputs on a per-paycheck basis and an annual summary, visualizing the distribution of funds between net pay, taxes, and benefits.

Inputs Used by the Denver Paycheck Calculator

The accuracy of the calculation depends on the specific variables entered into the tool. The following inputs dictate the logic flow:

Pay Mode: Users select between “Salary” and “Hourly (Denver).” This selection determines how the gross pay is annualized.
Annual Salary ($): Available when “Salary” is selected. This represents the total gross income before any deductions are applied.
Hourly Rate ($): Available when “Hourly” is selected. This is the raw dollar amount earned per hour worked.
Hrs/Week: The number of hours worked in a standard week. The calculator uses a baseline of 40 hours for standard pay calculations.
OT Hours: Overtime hours worked per week. The code applies a 1.5x multiplier to the hourly rate for any value entered in this field.
Pay Frequency: This dropdown defines the number of pay periods in a year, which divides the annual totals. Options include Weekly (52 periods), Bi-Weekly (26 periods), Semi-Monthly (24 periods), Monthly (12 periods), and Annually (1 period).
Bonus (This Paycheck Only): A one-time dollar amount added to the gross pay. This input triggers specific flat-rate tax logic distinct from regular income.
Federal Filing Status: Options include Single, Married Filing Jointly, and Head of Household. This selection determines the standard deduction amount and the specific tax brackets used for federal withholding calculations.
Work Location: Users choose between “Denver (Includes OPT Tax)” and “Other Colorado (No OPT).” Selecting Denver activates the logic for the local Occupational Privilege Tax.
RTD / Commuter Benefit: A monthly dollar amount deducted for transit passes. A “Pre-Tax” checkbox determines if this amount reduces the taxable income base for federal and state taxes.
401(k) / Pre-Tax (%): A percentage value applied to the gross pay. This amount is deducted from the gross pay before federal and state income taxes are calculated.
Health Insurance: A fixed dollar deduction applied per paycheck.
Monthly Rent: A dollar input used strictly for the “Rent Snapshot” calculation, comparing housing costs to net income.

How the Denver Paycheck Calculator Works

The calculation process follows a linear execution path based on the variables defined in the code.

1. Gross Pay Calculation The tool first establishes an annual gross income. For salaried employees, the input value is used directly or annualized based on the pay frequency. For hourly employees, the tool calculates weekly pay as (Rate × 40) + (Rate × 1.5 × Overtime Hours). This weekly figure is multiplied by 52 to determine the annual gross.

2. Pre-Tax Deduction Processing The tool calculates annual pre-tax deductions.

401(k): Calculated as Annual Gross × Input Percentage.
Health Insurance: Calculated as Per Check Amount × Number of Pay Periods.
RTD/Commuter: Calculated as Monthly Amount × 12. If the “Pre-Tax” box is checked, this value reduces the taxable income base.

3. Taxable Income Determination The “Annual Taxable” income is derived by subtracting the 401(k), Health Insurance, and (if applicable) Pre-Tax RTD amounts from the Annual Gross.

4. Tax Calculation Sequence

Federal Tax: The tool subtracts a standard deduction from the taxable income based on filing status ($15,000 for Single, $30,000 for Married, $22,500 for Head of Household). The remaining amount is passed through the 2025 federal tax brackets.
State Tax: A flat rate of 4.4% is applied to the taxable income.
FICA (Social Security & Medicare): The FICA base is calculated as Gross - Health Insurance - Pre-Tax RTD. Note that 401(k) contributions are not subtracted from the FICA base in this calculation. Social Security is calculated at 6.2% of the base, capped at a limit of $176,100. Medicare is calculated at 1.45% of the base, with an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% applied to amounts exceeding $200,000.
CO FAMLI: A rate of 0.45% is applied to the total annual gross income.
Denver OPT: If the work location is set to “Denver” and monthly earnings exceed $500, a flat tax of $5.75 per month is assessed.

5. Bonus Taxation If a bonus is entered, it is taxed separately using flat rates: 22% for Federal tax and 4.4% for Colorado State tax. Social Security and Medicare rates are applied to the bonus amount, respecting the annual Social Security cap.

6. Final Aggregation All annual tax and deduction totals are divided by the number of pay periods to generate the “Per Paycheck” values. Net pay is the result of Gross Pay - Total Deductions.

Results and Metrics Explained

The Denver Paycheck Calculator outputs split into two views: Per Paycheck and Annual Summary.

Gross Pay: The total earnings before any taxes or deductions are removed.
Taxable Income: The portion of gross pay subject to federal and state income tax after pre-tax deductions (401k, Health, RTD) are removed.
Federal Tax: The amount withheld for the US federal government based on progressive tax brackets.
FICA: The combined total of Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Colorado State Tax: The amount withheld for the state of Colorado at the flat statutory rate.
CO FAMLI: The premium withheld for the Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program.
Denver OPT: The Occupational Privilege Tax, a specific local tax for Denver workers.
Net Pay: The final amount distributed to the employee after all specific taxes and deductions are subtracted.
Rent Snapshot: A calculated percentage showing the ratio of the user’s entered rent to their monthly net income.

Interpreting the Calculation Output

The numeric values generated serve as a mathematical representation of payroll logic.

Take Home Pay: The large figure at the top of the summary card represents the estimated liquidity available to the employee per pay period. A higher value indicates lower total withholdings or higher gross pay.

The Distribution Chart: The doughnut chart provides a visual breakdown of where the gross salary is allocated.

Blue Segment (Net Pay): Represents the percentage of income retained.
Red Segment (Taxes): Represents the combined total of Federal, State, FICA, FAMLI, and OPT taxes.
Yellow Segment (Benefits/Pre-Tax): Represents the portion allocated to 401(k), health insurance, and commuter benefits.

Rent Affordability Badge: If a rent amount is entered, the tool calculates Rent / Monthly Net Pay.

< 30%: Displays a green badge labeled “Healthy.”
30% – 40%: Displays a yellow badge labeled “High.”
> 40%: Displays a red badge labeled “Risky.” These labels are strictly defined by the percentage thresholds programmed into the code.

Assumptions and Calculation Limits

The results provided by the Denver Paycheck Calculator are bound by specific hardcoded constants and logic limitations:

Tax Year: The tool uses 2025 federal tax brackets and limits.
Social Security Cap: The wage base limit for Social Security is fixed at $176,100.
Head of Household Logic: While a specific standard deduction ($22,500) is applied for Head of Household, the calculator applies the “Single” tax brackets to the remaining taxable income.
FICA Base Definition: The code calculates the FICA wage base as Gross Income minus Health Insurance and Pre-Tax RTD. It does not deduct 401(k) contributions from the FICA wage base, consistent with standard payroll rules where 401(k) is subject to FICA.
Colorado Tax Rate: The state income tax is calculated at a flat 4.4%.
Denver OPT Threshold: The tool assumes the Denver OPT applies if the monthly gross income exceeds $500. The tax is fixed at $5.75 per month regardless of income level above that threshold.
Overtime Calculation: Overtime pay is strictly calculated as 1.5 times the hourly rate for any hours entered in the “OT Hours” field. It does not account for double-time rules or complex shift differentials.
Bonus Taxation: Bonuses are taxed at a flat 22% federal rate and are not integrated into the progressive bracket calculation.

Estimation Disclaimer

The figures produced by this tool are estimates based on the provided inputs and fixed formulas. Actual paychecks may differ due to specific employer payroll software configurations, rounding differences, or changes in tax laws not yet reflected in the code.

Related Tools & Calculators: