Colorado Paycheck Calculator
Estimate your Colorado take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, and Colorado state income tax. Enter your gross pay, filing status, and pre-tax deductions to see your net pay per paycheck.
2026 rate, standard deduction, and personal exemption verified against Tax Foundation 2026 data.
- Take-home$51,969.90 · 79.95%
- Federal tax$5,620.00 · 8.65%
- Social Security + Medicare$4,972.50 · 7.65%
- Colorado tax$2,151.60 · 3.31%
- CO FAMLI$286.00 · 0.44%
| Item | Per bi-week | % of gross |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | 100% |
| Federal withholding | $216.15 | 8.65% |
| Social Security | $155.00 | 6.20% |
| Medicare | $36.25 | 1.45% |
| Colorado income tax | $82.75 | 3.31% |
| CO FAMLI | $11.00 | 0.44% |
| Take-home pay | $1,998.84 | 79.95% |
Living on a paycheck in Colorado
Colorado applies a single flat income tax rate of 4.4% to taxable income, so whether you earn a starting salary in Fort Collins or a senior wage in Denver, the state takes the same percentage. That simplicity makes Colorado take-home pay straightforward to plan.
Colorado has also rolled out a state Paid Family and Medical Leave program (FAMLI), funded partly by an employee premium, so most workers see a small additional deduction. The calculator above accounts for it.
How Colorado taxes are withheld
A Colorado paycheck includes federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and the flat 4.4% Colorado income tax on taxable income after the state deduction.
On top of income tax, most Colorado workers contribute to the FAMLI paid-leave program through a small payroll premium split with their employer. It is a fraction of a percent of wages, but it does nudge your take-home down, so it belongs in any accurate estimate.
What shapes your take-home in Colorado
With a flat 4.4% rate, your Colorado state tax scales smoothly with income while your federal filing status and pre-tax benefits do the heavy lifting on net pay. As a rough illustration, a single filer earning $75,000 might owe a little over $2,500 in Colorado income tax for the year, plus the small FAMLI premium. See your exact figure above.
Getting the most from each paycheck in Colorado
Pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions reduce both your federal and your flat 4.4% Colorado tax, making them efficient ways to lift take-home pay. The FAMLI premium is largely fixed, so focus your planning on those pre-tax accounts and on keeping your W-4 accurate.
How Colorado taxes your paycheck
Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Use the calculator above to estimate your take-home pay after all withholdings.
Every US paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to the annual wage base), and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on high earners) withheld. Your taxable income is your gross pay minus pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) and pre-tax health premiums.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is taken out of a paycheck in Colorado?
Colorado paychecks have federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%) withheld, plus a flat 4.4% state income tax, plus CO FAMLI. The exact amount depends on your pay, filing status, and pre-tax deductions.
Does Colorado have a state income tax?
Yes. Colorado levies a flat 4.4% state income tax in addition to federal taxes.
How is this take-home estimate calculated?
It applies 2026 estimated federal brackets, FICA rates, state income-tax rates, local taxes where configured, and employee payroll-program rates to your annual pay minus pre-tax deductions, then divides by your pay frequency. It is a simplified estimate, not official payroll withholding.