Human Resources Managers Salary
In Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, human resources managers earn $170,940 at the median, or about $82.19 an hour. The range runs from $110K at the entry level to $278K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $161,600 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,169/month, or 20.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $171K actually covers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Denver-Aurora-Centennial’s Regional Price Parity (105.78). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About human resources managers
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What this looks like in Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Denver-Aurora-Centennial sits well above the national pay line for human resources managers, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,169/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.78), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Denver-Aurora-Centennial offers a genuinely strong financial position for human resources managers at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for human resources managers in metros near Denver-Aurora-Centennial, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $169K | $161K |
| Colorado Springs | $151K | $150K |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $157K | $155K |
| Greeley | $161K | $161K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $110K. Mid-career wages sit at $171K. Top earners bring in $278K or more, a $168K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Human Resources Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184K | +23% | 2,250 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +22% | 7,540 |
| New York | $177K | +18% | 17,920 |
| New Jersey | $172K | +16% | 6,400 |
| California | $170K | +14% | 27,450 |
| Rhode Island | $167K | +12% | 530 |
| Colorado | $166K | +11% | 3,620 |
| Virginia | $166K | +11% | 5,770 |
| Connecticut | $166K | +11% | 3,020 |
| Washington | $166K | +11% | 4,560 |
| Delaware | $154K | +3% | 580 |
| Minnesota | $154K | +3% | 4,370 |
| Maryland | $153K | +2% | 3,820 |
| Illinois | $151K | +1% | 13,520 |
| Georgia | $151K | +1% | 7,270 |
| North Carolina | $143K | -4% | 6,480 |
| Oregon | $141K | -6% | 2,810 |
| Arizona | $140K | -6% | 3,950 |
| North Dakota | $139K | -7% | 290 |
| Michigan | $139K | -7% | 5,890 |
| Florida | $138K | -8% | 11,570 |
| Texas | $137K | -9% | 23,220 |
| New Hampshire | $135K | -10% | 1,150 |
| Kansas | $134K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $133K | -11% | 3,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $133K | -11% | 8,230 |
| Vermont | $132K | -12% | 360 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -12% | 4,310 |
| Utah | $131K | -12% | 2,240 |
| Missouri | $131K | -12% | 3,510 |
| Ohio | $130K | -13% | 8,040 |
| Indiana | $130K | -13% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $130K | -13% | 700 |
| Alaska | $130K | -13% | 610 |
| Nebraska | $129K | -13% | 1,660 |
| Hawaii | $129K | -14% | 710 |
| Nevada | $129K | -14% | 1,520 |
| Wyoming | $128K | -15% | 140 |
| Iowa | $126K | -15% | 1,620 |
| South Carolina | $124K | -17% | 2,400 |
| Kentucky | $121K | -19% | 1,960 |
| West Virginia | $120K | -20% | 510 |
| Idaho | $120K | -20% | 1,040 |
| New Mexico | $118K | -21% | 820 |
| South Dakota | $118K | -21% | 420 |
| Oklahoma | $116K | -22% | 1,750 |
| Montana | $115K | -23% | 530 |
| Alabama | $113K | -24% | 2,160 |
| Arkansas | $109K | -27% | 1,290 |
| Louisiana | $108K | -28% | 1,390 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -29% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Yes — at the median salary of $171K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,169/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $110K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,719/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $171K here vs. $149K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $171K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $162K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $170,940 a year, that works out to about $82 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $109,540, and experienced human resources managers can clear $277,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $171K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,006/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/month, which eats 21.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers salary go in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial has a Regional Price Parity of 105.78 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median human resources managers salary is worth about $161,600 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.