Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Denver, CO
Machine Learning Engineers in Denver, CO earn a median of $131,000/year, ranging from $100,870 (25th percentile) to $209,600 (90th percentile). After Colorado state taxes (4.4%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 128), this is equivalent to $102,344 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Denver, CO
Colorado's flat 4.4% state income tax takes less of your paycheck than most coasts, which matters when your base hovers around $131,000. Neighborhoods like LoHi and RiNo have shifted from scrappy to pricey fast - expect around $1,600 to $1,800 monthly for a 1BR - but you'll still come out ahead of San Francisco or New York on net income. Notable employers here include Google's Boulder campus, IBM's Colorado operations, and a sprawl of startups along the I-25 corridor. The metro sprawls, so most engineers drive or rely on RTD's limited light rail service to downtown; I-25 northbound mornings are predictably slow, and you're often looking at 30-45 minute commutes from the suburbs. The tech scene tilts toward aerospace, defense, and autonomous vehicles given proximity to Peterson Space Force Base and legacy engineering culture, which shapes the kinds of problems your team tackles day-to-day.
1Salary Distribution in Denver, CO
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Denver, CO Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO (current) | $131,000 | 128 | $102,344 |
| San Francisco, CA | $170,000 | 186 | $91,398 |
| New York, NY | $163,000 | 187 | $87,166 |
| Seattle, WA | $165,000 | 162 | $101,852 |
| Boston, MA | $150,000 | 162 | $92,593 |
| Austin, TX | $136,000 | 124 | $109,677 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver, CO?
The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $131,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $100,870 and the 90th percentile is $209,600.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a Machine Learning Engineer?
Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 128 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $131,000 Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver, CO is equivalent to $102,344 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Denver, CO?
Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 128, meaning it is 28% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Colorado is approximately 4.4%.
What is the Machine Learning Engineer salary range in Denver, CO?
In Denver, CO, Machine Learning Engineers earn between $100,870 (25th percentile) and $209,600 (90th percentile), with a median of $131,000 per year.
How many Machine Learning Engineer jobs are there in Denver, CO?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 22,400 Machine Learning Engineer positions in the Denver, CO metropolitan area.
What do Machine Learning Engineers earn in Denver, CO?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Machine Learning Engineers in Denver, CO earn a median annual wage of $131,000. The middle 50% earn between $100,870 and $167,680. The top 10% earn more than $209,600. There are approximately 22,400 Machine Learning Engineers employed in the Denver, CO metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 5.7%.
Is Denver, CO a good place for a Machine Learning Engineer?
Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 128 (US average = 100), making it 28% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Machine Learning Engineer in Denver, CO earning $131,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $102,344 relative to the US median. Colorado has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.4%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Denver, CO?
Denver, CO's cost of living index is 128, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $131,000 in Denver, COhas the same purchasing power as $102,344 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Denver, CO with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Machine Learning Engineer in Denver, CO?
The headline median of $131,000 is only part of the picture. Denver, CO's cost of living index is 128 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 78¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $131,000 salary effectively purchases $102,344 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Denver, CO, housing typically runs 28–35% of gross income for median earners — elevated but still within traditional affordability ranges. For a $131,000 salary, that translates to roughly $41,920/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Colorado levies a state income tax of approximately 4.4%, which reduces take-home by roughly $5,764 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $115,718. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($170,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($163,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($165,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 5.7% year-over-year growth rate for Machine Learning Engineers in Denver, CO is a leading indicator of market health. Above-average hiring pace suggests strong negotiating leverage, frequent counter-offer opportunities, and a deep pipeline of open roles. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Machine Learning Engineers or the Colorado state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.