Among Colorado’s post-secondary institutions in 2024, the University of Colorado Boulder paid the highest coaching salaries, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The data indicates that the university offered coaches an average salary of $1.1 million, with the top coaching salary reaching $2.3 million.
In 2024, the average salary for post-secondary coaches in Colorado was $126,539, marking a 0.5% decline from $127,130 the previous year.
A Knight Commission report projects that within a decade, some Power 5 football coaches will earn more than their schools spend on scholarships and medical care for all athletes. The study estimates more than $1 billion in new annual revenue from the expanded College Football Playoff and media rights deals. By 2032, nearly half of public Power 5 schools could reach this ‘crossover point.’
Incomplete data provided by post-secondary institutions can sometimes skew salary data.
| Institution | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| The University of Colorado Boulder | $1.1 million |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | $304,512 |
| The University of Denver | $195,606 |
| The University of Northern Colorado | $111,547 |
| The University of Colorado Colorado Springs | $71,273 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | $68,056 |
| Colorado State University Pueblo | $68,028 |
| Colorado Mesa University | $67,158 |
| Colorado College | $66,850 |
| Colorado Christian University | $63,232 |
Information in this story was obtained from the U.S. Department of Education. The source data can be found here.
