Rankings · Colorado
Highest paying school districts in Colorado
Ranked from the districts' own published salary schedules, not from survey averages or self-reported figures. Every row links to that district's full step-and-lane grid and the document it was read from.
- The highest starting bachelor's salary among the 14 indexed Colorado district schedules is St. Vrain Valley Schools at $64,500 (2025-26).
- The highest single cell on any indexed Colorado grid is Littleton Public Schools at $131,116.
- This ranks the 14 Colorado districts whose published schedule is indexed here, out of 178 districts in the state. A district that is not indexed is not ranked.
Highest starting salary on the bachelor's column
| District | Year | Starting | Column | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. St. Vrain Valley Schools | 2025-26 | $64,500 | BA | 31,757 |
| 2. Cherry Creek School District No. 5 | 2026-27 | $62,000 | BA | 51,808 |
| 3. Aurora Public Schools | 2026-27 | $61,805 | BA | 38,178 |
| 4. Adams 12 Five Star Schools | 2026-27 | $61,000 | BA | 34,998 |
| 5. Denver Public Schools | 2026-27 | $58,667 | BA | 88,258 |
| 6. Littleton Public Schools | 2025-26 | $58,038 | BA | 13,251 |
| 7. Poudre School District | 2026-27 | $58,000 | Bachelors | 29,772 |
| 8. School District 27J | 2026-27 | $56,692.06 | BA | 23,139 |
| 9. Jefferson County Public Schools | 2026-27 | $56,085.00 | Lane 1 Bachelor's Degree | 74,251 |
| 10. Douglas County School District Re-1 | 2026-27 | $51,914 | BA | 61,409 |
| 11. Mesa County Valley School District 51 | 2026-27 | $50,765 | BA | 20,078 |
| 12. RE-1 Valley School District | 2025-26 | $44,000 | BA | 1,887 |
| 13. Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 | 2023-24 | $40,000 | BA | 2,505 |
Highest cell anywhere on the schedule
The top of a schedule is normally the most senior step of the highest education column, so this is what a long-serving teacher with the most credits can reach, not a typical salary.
| District | Year | Top cell | Column | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Littleton Public Schools | 2025-26 | $131,116 | MA + 90/DOC | 13,251 |
| 2. Aurora Public Schools | 2026-27 | $127,750 | DOCTORATE | 38,178 |
| 3. Cherry Creek School District No. 5 | 2026-27 | $126,184 | PHD | 51,808 |
| 4. Denver Public Schools | 2026-27 | $125,235 | Doctorate | 88,258 |
| 5. Adams 12 Five Star Schools | 2026-27 | $121,391 | Doctorate | 34,998 |
| 6. School District 27J | 2026-27 | $116,249.74 | PHD | 23,139 |
| 7. St. Vrain Valley Schools | 2025-26 | $113,100 | MA+80/Dr | 31,757 |
| 8. Jefferson County Public Schools | 2026-27 | $112,955.00 | Lane 6 Master's Degree with 90 Graduate Credits | 74,251 |
| 9. Douglas County School District Re-1 | 2026-27 | $108,643 | PHD/EDS | 61,409 |
| 10. Mesa County Valley School District 51 | 2026-27 | $105,998 | MA+75/EDS/DOC | 20,078 |
| 11. Poudre School District | 2026-27 | $101,512 | PhD | 29,772 |
| 12. Thompson School District R2-J | 2025-26 | $95,441 | DOC | 14,907 |
| 13. Montezuma-Cortez School District RE-1 | 2023-24 | $68,000 | MA+60/PhD | 2,505 |
| 14. RE-1 Valley School District | 2025-26 | $66,733 | MA+60/DR | 1,887 |
Coverage grows as more Colorado schedules are parsed. See all 178 Colorado districts, or the national rankings.