Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO make a median of $62,520 a year. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.78), so that salary is closer to $59,104 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,169/month, about 51.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $63K 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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Denver-Aurora-Centennial
Pay for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $77K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,169/month, which is 52.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.78), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Entry-level recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128K | +65% | 1,950 |
| Maryland | $98K | +26% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $88K | +14% | 290 |
| Michigan | $84K | +8% | 320 |
| Wyoming | $83K | +8% | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $83K | +8% | 640 |
| Wisconsin | $81K | +4% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +4% | 260 |
| New York | $80K | +4% | 670 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +2% | 190 |
| New Mexico | $79K | +2% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $79K | +2% | 280 |
| Texas | $76K | -1% | 1,460 |
| Utah | $76K | -1% | 110 |
| Florida | $76K | -2% | 140 |
| Iowa | $75K | -3% | 100 |
| Washington | $75K | -3% | 240 |
| North Carolina | $74K | -4% | 730 |
| Tennessee | $73K | -5% | 220 |
| Missouri | $73K | -5% | 200 |
| Alabama | $73K | -6% | 110 |
| Arizona | $71K | -8% | 90 |
| Ohio | $70K | -9% | 420 |
| Maine | $68K | -12% | 40 |
| Illinois | $67K | -13% | 630 |
| Indiana | $67K | -13% | 410 |
| West Virginia | $66K | -14% | 100 |
| Georgia | $66K | -14% | 160 |
| Louisiana | $66K | -15% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $66K | -15% | 520 |
| Colorado | $66K | -15% | 180 |
| Virginia | $65K | -15% | 310 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -16% | 230 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -18% | 110 |
| Oregon | $63K | -18% | 480 |
| Arkansas | $63K | -18% | 110 |
| South Dakota | $62K | -19% | 60 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -22% | 190 |
| Kansas | $60K | -23% | 60 |
| Idaho | $59K | -24% | 70 |
| Alaska | $58K | -25% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 41 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Denver-Aurora-Centennial numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 52.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,169/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,648/month. At HUD’s $2,169/month FMR, rent would take 82% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $63K here vs. $77K nationally.
How does Denver-Aurora-Centennial compare to the national average for recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median is $62,520 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,160, and experienced recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries can clear $104,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Denver-Aurora-Centennial?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,127/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,169/month, which eats 52.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary 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 recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $59,104 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondaries 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.