What is Considered a Low Income Salary in Denver in 2025?

I remember when I started working a full-time job years ago and thought I made it with a salary of $30,000. I had a car payment, a decent apartment in the Denver Metro Area, and even a little money left over for things I enjoyed doing.

However, that was years ago. In this day and age, a $30,000 salary doesn't get you a whole lot of quality of life, especially in the Mile High City. Denver has become one of the most expensive cities in the United States and to live your everyday life in Colorado's capital city, you're going to need to make a lot of money.

This Salary is Considered Low Income in Denver

Colorado's minimum wage sits at just under $15 per hour at $14.81 for non-tipped employees and $11.79 per hour for tipped employees in 2025. Many might consider the state's minimum wage to be low, which is true, but you would still need to make many more dollars an hour to be considered at the top level of a low-income salary in Denver, Colorado.

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According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calculations, this salary is still considered low income in the metro areas of Denver, Aurora, and Lakewood. This low-income salary is quite surprising at $71,900 per year for a single person with one income. This means that if you live alone and survive on your income in these cities in the Denver Metro Area, you would need to make at least $35 per hour to not be classified as low income.

Low-Income Classifications in Denver, Colorado

How is a salary considered low income? It is dictated by anyone who makes under 80 percent of the area's median income. Denver's median household income is approximately $91,681 per year.

An extremely low income is calculated at 30 percent of the area's median household income. Those who rely on a single income, live alone, and make $27,400 per year are considered to have extremely low incomes. Read more on the income limits and qualifications of Denver's low-income salaries at denvergov.org.