Otero Junior College ranked 18th among Colorado post-secondary institutions for highest-paid coaches in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Data indicates the college offered its coaches an average salary of $34,570, with the top coaching salary at $34,982.
The University of Colorado Boulder led the state in 2024 by offering the highest average coaching salary of $1.1 million.
Coaches at Colorado post-secondary schools earned an average salary of $126,539 in 2024, reflecting 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.
