Computer Programmer Salary in Denver, CO
Computer Programmers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $104,610 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,529 take-home, or $6,544 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,184
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,486
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,517
- Colorado income tax$3,894
- Take-home pay$78,529
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,040 | $35.12 | $57,708 | $4,809 |
| 25th percentile | $76,190 | $36.63 | $59,786 | $4,982 |
| Median (50th) | $104,610 | $50.29 | $78,529 | $6,544 |
| 75th percentile | $132,220 | $63.57 | $96,529 | $8,044 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,510 | $78.61 | $116,539 | $9,712 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $104,610 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $78,529 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,236 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #23 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 23 | Denver, CO | $104,610 | $78,529 | $74,236 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Denver, CO?
The median computer programmer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $104,610 a year, or about $50.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,190 and $132,220.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $104,610 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $78,529 a year ($6,544 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,894 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,236 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #23 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Database Architect — $162,640
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $160,520
- Computer Network Architect — $139,230
- Software Developer — $137,610
- Information Security Analyst — $136,670
- Computer Systems Analyst — $127,880
- Operations Research Analyst — $127,810
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $123,690
- Database Administrator — $120,120
- Data Scientist — $112,520
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $105,090
- Statistician — $104,060