Colorado · Employment data 2025
Boulder County
About 1 in 3 jobs — 32.6% — are in the top two exposure tiers. That is roughly 62,400 of 191,474 covered jobs.
This estimates the share of jobs in occupations with high or substantial task overlap in the 2023 ratings. It is not a job-loss forecast.
No suppressed industry cells. The occupation mix still uses national staffing patterns; it is not directly counted locally. About this estimate
How the county's jobs are distributed
“Covered jobs” are jobs in unemployment-insurance records; most self-employed work is excluded. The top two tiers make up 32.6% here, compared with 27.4% statewide and 25.9% nationally.
| Tier | Share of jobs | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| high overlap | 7.2% | 13,811 |
| substantial overlap | 25.4% | 48,548 |
| some overlap | 31.0% | 59,361 |
| little overlap | 36.4% | 69,754 |
Counties with similar job counts: Larimer (24.7%), Douglas (30.8%), Jefferson (27.1%). Small differences should not be treated as precise rankings.
Across all of Boulder County's jobs, 7.2% are in high-overlap occupations, 25.4% substantial, 31.0% some, and 36.4% little.
County context. Population 328,961. Median annual earnings for workers living here: $50,014 (±$1,116). 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates. These are residence-based — they describe the people who live in Boulder County, while the employment figures describe the jobs located in it.
Plate I
Groups with the highest task overlap
- Computer and Mathematical 7.9% of jobs · score 53.6Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Software Developers
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Data Scientists
- Information Security Analysts
- Office and Admin Support 10.7% of jobs · score 53.3Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Customer Service Representatives
- Office Clerks, General
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- Business and Financial Operations 7.7% of jobs · score 52.1Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Accountants and Auditors
- Project Management Specialists
- Human Resources Specialists
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Management Analysts
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- Life and Physical Science 1.8% of jobs · score 48.2Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
- Chemists
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Biological Technicians
- Legal 0.8% of jobs · score 46.3Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Lawyers
- Paralegals and Legal Assistants
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
- Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
- Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
- Judicial Law Clerks
| Occupation group | Estimated jobs | Share of county jobs | Mean exposure score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 15,184 | 7.9% | 53.6 |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 20,578 | 10.7% | 53.3 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 14,744 | 7.7% | 52.1 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations | 3,540 | 1.8% | 48.2 |
| Legal Occupations | 1,479 | 0.8% | 46.3 |
Plate II
Large groups with lower task overlap
- Food Preparation and Serving 8.5% of jobs · score 13.8Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Fast Food and Counter Workers
- Waiters and Waitresses
- Cooks, Restaurant
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
- Food Preparation Workers
- Bartenders
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 5.6% of jobs · score 30.2Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Registered Nurses
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Pharmacists
- Transportation and Moving 5.3% of jobs · score 13.4Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- Stockers and Order Fillers
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Light Truck Drivers
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
- Production 5.1% of jobs · score 11.0Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
- Machinists
- Healthcare Support 3.7% of jobs · score 13.2Largest occupations in this group nationally:
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Nursing Assistants
- Medical Assistants
- Dental Assistants
- Phlebotomists
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
| Occupation group | Estimated jobs | Share of county jobs | Mean exposure score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 16,312 | 8.5% | 13.8 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 10,754 | 5.6% | 30.2 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 10,171 | 5.3% | 13.4 |
| Production Occupations | 9,724 | 5.1% | 11.0 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 7,033 | 3.7% | 13.2 |
Plate III
Jobs versus payroll
Measured by payroll rather than headcount, high- and substantial-overlap work is a larger share of Boulder County's economy — exposure here skews toward higher-wage occupations.
- Share of jobs 32.6%
Statewide 27.4%
- Share of payroll 40.3%
Statewide 34.8%
| Measure | Boulder County | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Share of jobs in high- or substantial-overlap occupations | 32.6% | 27.4% |
| Share of payroll in high- or substantial-overlap occupations | 40.3% | 34.8% |
Plate IV
How Boulder County compares
| Boulder County share | 32.6% |
|---|---|
| Typical (median) Colorado county | 21.2% |
| Colorado overall (employment-weighted) | 27.4% |
| United States overall | 25.9% |
| Lowest county share | 15.9% |
| Highest county share | 35.3% |
Cite this page
Colorado AI Exposure Atlas
Martin, Christopher. “AI Job Exposure in Boulder County, Colorado.” Colorado AI Exposure Atlas, 2026 edition. https://coloradoaiexposureatlas.com/county/boulder/.
2026 Edition · Employment data 2025 · Compiled by Christopher Martin
Download Boulder County's data (JSON) — every number on this page, CC BY 4.0. Statewide files on the data page.