Castle Rock Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Castle Rock, CO: $26.02/hr median hourly wage, $54,114 median annual salary, cost of living index 98.6, and $14.42/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Colorado taxes.
Castle Rock Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Castle Rock, CO is $26.02/hr, equivalent to $54,114 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $16.13/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $36.95/hr, and the local minimum wage is $14.42/hr.
Median Salary
$54,114
$26.02/hr
Cost of Living
98.6
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$14.42
per hour
Unemployment
3.1%
rate
Castle Rock, CO Overview
Population
73,158
Median Salary
$54,114
Average Salary
$60,608
Avg Commute
18 min
Median Home Price
$510,000
Median Rent
$2,077/mo
Job Growth
+0.5%
Sales Tax
2.9%
Castle Rock is located in Colorado with a population of 73,158. The median household salary is $54,114 per year ($26.02/hour), which is $5,270 below the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 18 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +0.5%.
Castle Rock Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Castle Rock, CO based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $54,114 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $33,551 | $16.13/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $54,114 | $26.02/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $76,842 | $36.95/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $96,323 | $46.32/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Castle Rock Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Castle Rock, CO, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$43,280
$3,606.63/month · $1,664.60/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.0%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,664.60 take-home per paycheck after estimated Colorado and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$54,114
Federal Tax
-$4,314
State Tax
-$2,381
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,140
Net Pay
$43,280
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,509.50 | $54,114.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$359.47 | -$4,313.68 |
| Colorado State Tax (4.4%) | -$198.42 | -$2,381.02 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$279.59 | -$3,355.07 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$65.39 | -$784.65 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,606.63 | $43,279.58 |
Salary Comparison: Castle Rock vs Other Cities
See how Castle Rock's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock, CO | $54,114 | 98.6 | $54,882 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Southfield, MI | $54,114 | 84.1 | $64,345 |
| Garden City, KS | $54,114 | 88.3 | $61,284 |
| Long Beach, NY | $54,125 | 127.3 | $42,518 |
| Hurst, TX | $54,135 | 87.1 | $62,153 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Castle Rock
Castle Rock's cost of living index is 98.6 (national average = 100). Living in Castle Rock is 1.4000000000000057% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$510,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,077
Annual Rent Cost
$24,924
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $43,280 annual take-home pay in Castle Rock has the purchasing power of approximately $43,894 in an average-cost US area. Your $54,114 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Castle Rock
Castle Rock's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $54,114.
Salary Tips for Castle Rock Workers
- Research top industries. Castle Rock's top industries include Technology, Aerospace, Energy. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $54,114 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Castle Rock salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Castle Rock-CO metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Castle Rock indexed at 98.6.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Castle Rock's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $54,114 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects Colorado state income tax (4.4%) (no local income tax), sales tax (2.9%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Castle Rock: 3.1%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Aerospace, Energy — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 0.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Colorado.
- Housing context: median home price $510,000, median rent $2,077/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Castle Rock, CO:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Castle Rock unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Castle Rock QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — Colorado — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Castle Rock's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Colorado labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Castle Rock, CO?
The median hourly wage in Castle Rock, CO is $26.02 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $54,114 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $16.13/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $36.95/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Castle Rock, CO?
The median salary in Castle Rock, CO is $54,114 per year, or $26.02 per hour. The average salary is $60,608. This is $5,270 below the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Castle Rock, CO?
Castle Rock's cost of living index is 98.6 (national average = 100), meaning it is 1.4000000000000057% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $510,000 and the median monthly rent is $2,077.
What are the best industries in Castle Rock?
The top industries in Castle Rock, CO include Technology, Aerospace, Energy. The city has a job growth rate of 0.5% and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $54,114.
How does Castle Rock's salary compare to other cities?
Castle Rock's median salary of $54,114 is 8.9% below the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 98.6), the real purchasing power is approximately $54,882.
What is the minimum wage in Castle Rock, CO?
The minimum wage in Castle Rock, CO is $14.42 per hour. This equals approximately $29,994 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.17 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.