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.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Colorado. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $127K get you in Colorado?
About political scientists
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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.
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a political scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/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 $4,801/month.
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%.
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 $2,044/month, which eats 26.6% 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 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median political scientists salary is worth about $127,260 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.