Political Scientists Salary
The median pay for a political scientists in Colorado is $127,260/year ($61.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $197K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $122,708 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Colorado. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
Where the paycheck goes
What $127K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About political scientists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Colorado
Political scientists pay in Colorado tracks closely to the national median, $127K locally vs. $142K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level political scientists (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $197K or more, a $117K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track political scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a political scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political scientists in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political scientists typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,096/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is political scientist a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $127K locally vs. $142K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for political scientists?
Colorado pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $142K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $123K — below the national median.
How much do political scientists make in Colorado?
The median is $127,260 a year, that works out to about $61 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,010, and experienced political scientists can clear $197,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,678/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 23.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a political scientists salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 political scientists salary is worth about $122,708 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do political scientists 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.