Severance Pay in Denver, Colorado | 2026 Calculator & Guide

Free Severance Pay Calculator

Estimate your severance package based on your salary, years of service, and industry

Colorado State Law Quick-Reference

No

Mandatory Severance

60 days

WARN Act Notice

26.4%

Est. Combined Withholding

Federal WARN Act requires 60 days notice for layoffs of 50+ employees at companies with 100+ employees. The combined tax rate includes the 22% federal supplemental wage rate and 4.4% Colorado state withholding (estimate).

Major Employers in Denver

Google (Alphabet)

Company-confirmed only for the Jan 2023 layoff: 16 weeks base + 2 weeks/year of service, >=16 weeks accelerated GSU vesting, 6 months healthcare, 60-day paid notice. The 2025-26 voluntary buyouts have no Google-published figure (the reported ~14 wks + 1 wk/yr is from a leaked memo, not confirmed).

Amazon

Employee-reported (never company-confirmed): ~1 week per 6 months of service (≈2 wks/yr), reported floor ~4 weeks, cap ~20 weeks, paid after a ~90-day paid notice window; warehouse tiers reported lower

Oracle

Multi-source confirmed (TechCrunch, TIME, IndexBox): 4 weeks of base pay for the first year of service + 1 week per additional year, capped at 26 weeks total. 1-month COBRA subsidy. Release of claims required. NO RSU acceleration: unvested RSUs forfeit at termination (the most controversial element of the March 2026 cuts; documented $1M individual forfeitures in published reports).

Accenture

Based on local labor law + additional company severance

Deloitte

2 weeks per year of service (typical Big Four)

Top Industries in Denver

Energy

Local industry

Salary-Adjusted Severance Examples for Denver

Based on the Denver median salary of $72,000 ($1,385/week), with 26.4% combined tax withholding

Tenure	Low (1 wk/yr)	Typical (2 wk/yr)	High (3 wk/yr)
2 years	$2,769 $2,038 after tax	$5,538 $4,076 after tax	$8,308 $6,114 after tax
5 years	$6,923 $5,095 after tax	$13,846 $10,191 after tax	$20,769 $15,286 after tax
10 years	$13,846 $10,191 after tax	$27,692 $20,382 after tax	$41,538 $30,572 after tax

Cost of Living Context

118

Cost of Living Index
(National average = 100)

Your $13,846 typical severance (5 years tenure) goes 18% less in Denver compared to the national average. In a high-cost area like Denver, negotiating additional weeks of severance or employer-paid COBRA coverage is especially important to maintain your standard of living during your job search.

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When a calculator estimate is not enough

Use your estimate as a starting point, not a final answer. Releases of claims, stock equity, short deadlines, and layoffs involving protected rights all need closer review.

Review Methodology Contact the Team

Denver Severance Pay FAQ

How much severance pay is typical in Denver?▼

In Denver, Colorado, typical severance ranges from 1-3 weeks of pay per year of service. Based on the local median salary of $72,000, a worker with 5 years of tenure can expect between $6,923 and $20,769 in gross severance. However, actual amounts vary significantly by employer, industry, and seniority level.

How is severance taxed in Denver, Colorado?▼

Severance pay in Denver is taxed at a combined rate of 26.4%: the 22% federal supplemental wage rate plus 4.4% Colorado state income tax. On a $50,000 severance package, you would take home approximately $36,800 after withholding.

Where can I find a severance lawyer in Denver?▼

A local attorney familiar with Colorado employment law can review your severance agreement, identify additional leverage, and negotiate better terms. Many employment attorneys in Denver offer free initial consultations, so consider consulting a licensed employment attorney in your state.