What pays what here
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, every experience level (BLS OEWS, May 2025). BLS published no figure here for helpers to electricians.
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| Occupation | Jobs in metro | 10th percentile | Median here | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand laborers and material movers | 19,340 | $18.44 | $22.25 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and order fillers | 32,610 | $18.28 | $21.39 | $17.95 |
| Forklift and industrial truck operators | 5,410 | $21.53 | $25.09 | $22.32 |
| Light truck drivers | 9,500 | $19.04 | $23.73 | $21.57 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 14,320 | $23.21 | $30.72 | $28.19 |
| Retail salespersons | 40,340 | $16.68 | $18.50 | $17.03 |
| Cashiers | 23,860 | $16.61 | $18.09 | $15.81 |
| Customer service representatives | 23,560 | $18.26 | $23.36 | $21.53 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 26,130 | $17.86 | $18.70 | $17.21 |
| Nursing assistants | 10,350 | $20.15 | $23.61 | $20.32 |
| Medical assistants | 6,440 | $21.88 | $23.90 | $21.97 |
| Construction laborers | 9,650 | $18.74 | $23.44 | $22.66 |
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers | 10,900 | $18.19 | $22.25 | $18.82 |
| Electricians | 10,450 | $22.15 | $30.36 | $30.38 |
| HVAC mechanics and installers | 4,360 | $23.56 | $34.41 | $29.33 |
Denver tops the U.S. median in almost every row. Stockers beat the nation by $3.44 an hour, and cashiers by $2.28. Electricians are level at $30.36 against $30.38, so a trade pays no local premium here. Most 10th percentiles sit under Denver's $19.29, since the metro reaches past city limits and BLS measured in May 2025. Forty hours at $21.39 is $855.60 a week before federal and Colorado taxes. Compare other places at pay benchmarks.
Local pay rules: check the job's address
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| Where you work | 2026 | 2027 | 2027 with tip credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| City and County of Denver | $19.29 | $19.84 | $16.82 |
| City of Edgewater | $18.17 | $19.84 | Not set yet |
| Rest of Colorado, if no local rate | $15.16 | $15.71 | $12.69 |
Colorado Division of Labor Standards table, read October 31, 2026; CDLE, August 13, 2026; Denver Labor, read October 31, 2026; minimum wage by state.
In 2027, 40 hours at Denver's rate pays $793.60. The same hours at the state rate pay $628.40, which is $165.20 less each week. Denver's rate covers work done inside city limits, not workers there under 4 hours a week. Denver allows the tip credit only in food and beverage work.
Payday: the U.S. DOL table marks only monthly for Colorado, and employers may pay more often (revised January 1, 2023; pay frequency laws). Ask yours before you budget.
Local rights: Colorado sets real rules
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| Right | What you get | Who enforces |
|---|---|---|
| Paid sick leave | 1 hour per 30 worked, up to 48 hours a year, at full pay. Extra emergency leave is not active now | CDLE, read October 31, 2026 |
| Meal break | 30 minutes on shifts over 5 hours, for most employees. An on-duty meal is paid | CDLE; U.S. DOL table |
| Rest break | 10 paid minutes per 4 hours or major fraction | CDLE; U.S. DOL table |
| Hiring | No criminal history questions in ads or on a first application. Background reports are still allowed | C.R.S. 8-2-130 |
Your employer can ask for a doctor's note only for absences of four or more days in a row (CDLE INFO #6B, February 27, 2026). Full-time at 40 hours, you bank 48 hours in 36 weeks, worth $925.92 at $19.29. JobPin found no Colorado or Denver fair workweek law. More: break laws and ban the box laws.
Where complaints go. Pick by the rule that was broken:
- Denver wage rate: Denver Labor, 720-913-9243, or wagecomplaints@denvergov.org. Put it in writing. You can stay anonymous (Denver Labor, read October 31, 2026).
- State wages, sick leave, breaks: the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, 303-318-8441. Send your employer a written demand at the same time you file. See unpaid wages.
Free local help
Denver Workforce Development, also called Denver Workforce Services, offers free coaching, computers and resume help. Its centers open only Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM, walk-ins or appointments (City and County of Denver, read October 31, 2026).
- Webb: 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver 80202
- Montbello: 4685 Peoria St., Suite 251, Denver 80239
- Denver International Airport: Westin Hotel and Transit Center, 8300 Peña Blvd., Level 4, Denver 80249
Call (720) 337-9675 or email workforce@denvergov.org.
Training money. Federal WIOA funds support the program, and the city lists "career counseling and training for jobseekers," plus paths in aviation, construction, green jobs, early childhood education and tech. The city's pages give no dollar amount for training, so ask a coach what you qualify for. What to say and bring: free job help. In Aurora, Lakewood or other suburbs, a county center may serve you. Use the CareerOneStop finder.
Getting there on RTD
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| RTD fare | Standard | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Hour Pass | $2.75 | $1.35 |
| Day Pass | $5.50 | $2.70 |
| Monthly Pass, including the airport | $88 | $27 |
RTD, read October 31, 2026. Two 3-Hour Passes for 22 workdays cost $121, so the $88 pass saves $33. It equals 4.1 hours of pay at $21.39.
LiVE is the program to know. If you are 20 or older with household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, LiVE gives you discount fares. That turns $88 into $27, a $61 saving each month. Apply through PEAK, the state benefits site. For help, call 303-299-2668, or visit 1660 Blake St., Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to noon and 1 to 3 PM. Riders 19 and under ride free. Seniors, people with disabilities and Medicare holders get the discount too.
To the Webb center: RTD's Route 15 and 15L maps show Colfax service and Civic Center Station, 1560 Broadway. Since September 27, 2026, they use center bus lanes east of Broadway, so check where to board. Use RTD's trip planner for the last walk, and for Montbello.
Who employs people here
September is preliminary (BLS Economy at a Glance, extracted October 30, 2026). Unemployment was 4.3%.
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| Sector | Jobs, September 2026 | Change over 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Total nonfarm | 1,645,700 | +0.2% |
| Professional and business services | 317,700 | +1.2% |
| Trade, transportation and utilities | 284,200 | -1.5% |
| Government | 232,700 | -0.3% |
| Education and health services | 231,100 | +4.6% |
| Leisure and hospitality | 176,600 | +0.7% |
| Mining, logging and construction | 115,100 | +3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 62,500 | -3.7% |
Health and education added 4.6%, while manufacturing shrank 3.7%. Trade and transportation also fell, by 1.5%, so warehouse hiring may be softer than the pay table suggests. Denver International Airport says about 40,000 people work there (DEN jobs page, read October 31, 2026).
Job fairs and hiring events
JobPin's Denver job fair hub has no confirmed upcoming fair today, and its last record is August 25. Denver Workforce Development lists free online sessions, including Resume Tips & Tricks and Interview Tips & Tricks on November 4, and Green Workforce Works on November 25 (city calendar, read October 31, 2026). Ask a coach about fairs.
A plan for this week
- Monday, November 2: look up your job's address. Is it inside Denver? If so, your 2027 floor is $19.84.
- Tuesday: ride to 201 W. Colfax before 4 PM. Ask, "Do I qualify for WIOA training, and what is the next step?"
- Wednesday: join the free Resume Tips & Tricks webinar. Apply through PEAK for LiVE if your income may qualify.
- Thursday: this is the last center day of the week, so return with questions. Apply to five roles from the table above.
- Friday: centers are closed. Check your pay stub for sick leave hours. If they are missing, call 303-318-8441.
Current openings
Next steps on JobPin: the Denver category page is general labor jobs in Denver. To start, read general labor entry points or browse general labor nationwide.
Source-linked openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Compare the posted rate with the job's location, because the city's floor is well above the state's. Open JobPin's source link, find the street address, and match the pay with the employer. A rate under $19.29 inside city limits needs an explanation. See how JobPin verifies listings.
How JobPin dates and sources listings: How JobPin verifies listings and events. Report a listing.