Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Denver
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Denver
Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it’s fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there’s room to specialize and pursue your passion.
Historically, teachers’ pay is a rather contentious topic. The average teacher salary is about $2,000 less than a decade ago after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying education jobs in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest and lowest paying education jobs in your city.
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#44. Teaching assistants, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $34,940
– #87 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $41,170
– Employment: 121,290
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Arecibo, PR ($62,080)
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
#43. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $35,010
– #81 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 9,170
National
– Annual mean salary: $31,760
– Employment: 1,187,270
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#42. Tutors
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $36,860
– #177 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,040
National
– Annual mean salary: $41,780
– Employment: 147,100
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
— Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)
CHRISTOF STACHE // Getty Images
#41. Preschool teachers, except special education
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $38,100
– #118 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,220
National
– Annual mean salary: $36,460
– Employment: 391,670
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
— Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
— Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)
Unsplash
#40. Library technicians
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $41,410
– #82 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,050
National
– Annual mean salary: $39,070
– Employment: 73,000
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
— Napa, CA ($57,890)
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Brian S. Hagberg // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Self-enrichment teachers
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $44,280
– #137 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,640
National
– Annual mean salary: $49,230
– Employment: 216,910
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
— Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#38. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $46,970
– #155 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 460
National
– Annual mean salary: $60,650
– Employment: 38,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($96,640)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,290)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)
Jeff Reed // flickr
#37. Archivists
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $50,360
– #31 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $61,880
– Employment: 6,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($84,080)
— Ann Arbor, MI ($79,270)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,800)
StockphotoVideo // Shutterstock
#36. Museum technicians and conservators
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $55,380
– #13 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100
National
– Annual mean salary: $52,030
– Employment: 10,960
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,670)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,180)
Kenny Holston // flickr
#35. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $56,110
– #66 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $79,080
– Employment: 13,860
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($136,830)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($123,660)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,590)
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industryviews // Shutterstock
#34. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $58,010
– #172 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 520
National
– Annual mean salary: $63,130
– Employment: 105,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
— Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)
Iam_Anupong // Shutterstock
#33. Kindergarten teachers, except special education
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $59,850
– #146 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,150
National
– Annual mean salary: $64,490
– Employment: 120,730
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
— Kingston, NY ($92,160)
— Salinas, CA ($90,490)
Marcwathieu // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Curators
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $62,630
– #34 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150
National
– Annual mean salary: $63,880
– Employment: 11,030
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,990)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,020)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,680)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
#31. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $63,950
– #143 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 6,260
National
– Annual mean salary: $66,880
– Employment: 592,000
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
— Yuba City, CA ($94,480)
The Boston Globe // Getty Images
#30. Elementary school teachers, except special education
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $64,110
– #152 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 11,510
National
– Annual mean salary: $67,080
– Employment: 1,329,280
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
— Salinas, CA ($91,280)
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DGLimages // Shutterstock
#29. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $64,950
– #121 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,000
National
– Annual mean salary: $67,090
– Employment: 187,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Salinas, CA ($102,210)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
— Chico, CA ($88,430)
Canva
#28. Special education teachers, middle school
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $65,210
– #91 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 980
National
– Annual mean salary: $68,860
– Employment: 79,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
— Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)
Photographee.eu // Shutterstock
#27. Special education teachers, secondary school
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $66,310
– #111 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,300
National
– Annual mean salary: $70,100
– Employment: 145,690
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)
B Brown // Shutterstock
#26. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $66,580
– #136 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 8,700
National
– Annual mean salary: $69,530
– Employment: 1,020,240
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
— Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#25. Librarians and media collections specialists
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $67,020
– #75 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,040
National
– Annual mean salary: $64,180
– Employment: 127,790
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#24. Special education teachers, preschool
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $67,240
– #27 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 400
National
– Annual mean salary: $71,970
– Employment: 21,130
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($101,190)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,010)
— Worcester, MA-CT ($97,900)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#23. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $68,920
– #104 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 870
National
– Annual mean salary: $86,240
– Employment: 94,720
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
— Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)
industryviews // Shutterstock
#22. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $70,030
– #82 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 340
National
– Annual mean salary: $68,960
– Employment: 84,360
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)
Martynova Anna // Shutterstock
#21. Career/technical education teachers, middle school
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $71,910
– #20 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80
National
– Annual mean salary: $69,410
– Employment: 11,840
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fresno, CA ($139,720)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,750)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,790)
Fabrice Florin // flickr
#20. Education teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $73,570
– #60 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 520
National
– Annual mean salary: $76,990
– Employment: 58,780
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,140)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,130)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($110,160)
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Simon Fraser Universtiy // flickr
#19. Instructional coordinators
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $75,000
– #76 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,670
National
– Annual mean salary: $70,560
– Employment: 184,740
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Salem, OR ($93,890)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($93,760)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,430)
COD Newsroom // Flickr
#18. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $76,240
– #61 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 440
National
– Annual mean salary: $82,680
– Employment: 58,480
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#17. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $76,870
– #21 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $91,680
– Employment: 9,040
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)
Fae // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Psychology teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $77,370
– #97 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 360
National
– Annual mean salary: $88,390
– Employment: 36,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($141,130)
— Iowa City, IA ($131,770)
— Ann Arbor, MI ($117,020)
University of the Fraser Valley // flickr
#15. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $78,210
– #53 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 210
National
– Annual mean salary: $88,260
– Employment: 20,850
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)
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Irina.stelea // Wikimedia Commons
#14. History teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $80,220
– #47 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120
National
– Annual mean salary: $86,460
– Employment: 18,590
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
#13. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $80,460
– #63 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 140
National
– Annual mean salary: $94,060
– Employment: 20,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,550)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,870)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($135,160)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#12. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $81,150
– #68 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370
National
– Annual mean salary: $87,980
– Employment: 44,140
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)
Tulane Public Relations // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Sociology teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $82,400
– #37 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $87,850
– Employment: 12,550
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,100)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($139,630)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($119,830)
Shane Global // flickr
#10. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $82,580
– #29 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $82,990
– Employment: 19,640
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#9. Computer science teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $87,060
– #72 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 330
National
– Annual mean salary: $89,610
– Employment: 37,600
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
— Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
— Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#8. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $89,240
– #21 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50
National
– Annual mean salary: $102,110
– Employment: 5,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,640)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,530)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($128,760)
Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock
#7. Business teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $89,410
– #137 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 820
National
– Annual mean salary: $105,720
– Employment: 79,640
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
— Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)
Florida Fish and Wildlife // flickr
#6. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $90,160
– #11 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 180
National
– Annual mean salary: $81,730
– Employment: 13,790
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,540)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($152,830)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,020)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#5. Biological science teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $90,920
– #65 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 230
National
– Annual mean salary: $98,710
– Employment: 47,690
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)
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Suzannekweiss // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $91,280
– #33 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 760
National
– Annual mean salary: $82,040
– Employment: 68,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
— Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#3. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $91,590
– #31 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170
National
– Annual mean salary: $102,840
– Employment: 10,250
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#2. Engineering teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $110,320
– #39 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 540
National
– Annual mean salary: $115,590
– Employment: 35,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)
Canva
#1. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $172,540
– #11 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 5,650
National
– Annual mean salary: $133,310
– Employment: 191,830
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
— Jackson, MS ($202,690)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)
