SOC 11-9121

Natural Sciences Managers Salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + CO
COL Index: 137.11 (+37.1% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 68.1% Realized
$96,065 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $141,080 $67.83/hr
Effective Tax Drag 25.91% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 24% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$36,550 $1,405.77/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $67.83 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$8,465/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$2,032/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$20,562
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$8,747
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$2,046
Colorado Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$5,127
Denver Occupational Privilege Tax
LOCAL
-$69
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$96,065 ($3,694.82 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Natural Sciences Managers Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $141,080
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $83.3k 25th $101k Median: $141,080 50th (Median) $141k 75th $186k 90th $264k You: $141,080
10th (Entry) $83,310 $40.05/hr
25th (Junior) $101,090 $48.60/hr
50th (Median) $141,080 $67.83/hr
75th (Senior) $185,620 $89.24/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $263,840 $126.85/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Natural Sciences Managers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
1
Research ScientistBachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$67,241$32.33/hr · 2-5 Years
2
Senior ScientistDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities
$100,735$48.43/hr · 5-9 Years
3
Natural Sciences ManagerFull professional competence; leads projects or a small team
$141,063$67.82/hr · 9-14 Years
4
Director of ResearchOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$186,875$89.84/hr · 14-20 Years
5
VP of R&D / Chief ScientistExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$267,278$128.50/hr · 20+ Years
Scaled to the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO medianView National Natural Sciences Managers Salary Data
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Project Management Specialists-$64,900/yr
National median: $102,320
Skill overlap: 77%View Salary
Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers-$57,850/yr
National median: $109,370
Skill overlap: 77%
Biological Technicians-$109,710/yr
National median: $57,510
Skill overlap: 63%
Data Scientists-$46,990/yr
National median: $120,230
Skill overlap: 62%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
23% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,831/month Requires minimum annual gross of $73,240
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $2,169/month Requires minimum annual gross of $86,760
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $30.32/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $28.13/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$141,080-$36,550$96,065$3,694.82
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$167,533-$45,635$111,845$4,301.74
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$193,985-$54,133$128,213$4,931.28
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$220,438-$61,762$145,449$5,594.21
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$246,890-$70,581$161,495$6,211.35
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Natural Sciences Managers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Colorado tax codes.

Market Baseline
$141,080/yr
$67.83/hr · SOC 11-9121
Statutory Tax Drag
25.91% Effective
-$36,550 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
23% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$6,174/mo
Post-$1,831/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 11-9121
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Natural Sciences Managers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO: Market Snapshot

Natural Sciences Managers roles in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO report a median annual wage of $141,080, 15.6% below the national median of $167,220. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $83,310 to $263,840, and HUD’s $1,831 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 15.6% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $30.32 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Natural Sciences Managers

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$291,000+106.3%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$263,810+87.0%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$225,230+59.6%
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR$220,120+56.0%
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT$217,480+54.2%
Kennewick-Richland, WA$215,860+53.0%
Worcester, MA$212,600+50.7%
Midland, MI$212,130+50.4%
New Haven, CT$210,670+49.3%
Boulder, CO$210,340+49.1%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Computer and Information Systems Managers$203,340$97.76/hr
Financial Manager$193,400$92.98/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$191,440$92.04/hr
Marketing Managers$182,470$87.73/hr
Sales Managers$181,580$87.30/hr
Purchasing Managers$180,000$86.54/hr
Public Relations Managers$174,260$83.78/hr
Human Resources Managers$170,940$82.18/hr
Compensation and Benefits Managers$168,850$81.18/hr
Advertising and Promotions Managers$165,000$79.33/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 210 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Natural Sciences Managers Salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO Overview

Natural Sciences Managers median pay in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO is $141,080 a year ($67.83/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles. Official 2026 economic data for Natural Sciences Managers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Natural Sciences Managers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?

The median annual wage is $141,080 ($67.83 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $83,310 and $263,840. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Natural Sciences Managers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO after taxes?

On the median wage of $141,080, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $102,126 a year ($8,511 a month) after $38,954 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 27.61%, using 2026 tax rules.