Data Scientist Salary in Boulder, CO
Data Scientists in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $134,040 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,693 take-home, or $8,141 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,904
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,310
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,944
- Colorado income tax$5,189
- Take-home pay$97,693
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Data Scientist pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,640 | $35.88 | $58,763 | $4,897 |
| 25th percentile | $100,940 | $48.53 | $76,108 | $6,342 |
| Median (50th) | $134,040 | $64.44 | $97,693 | $8,141 |
| 75th percentile | $165,550 | $79.59 | $117,844 | $9,820 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $222,940 | $107.18 | $156,316 | $13,026 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $134,040 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median data scientist's $97,693 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,862 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boulder, CO has 1.7× the national concentration of data scientist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #11 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
| 11 | Boulder, CO | $134,040 | $97,693 | $92,862 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Data Scientist salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $127,600
- Denver, CO — $112,520
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Boulder, CO?
The median data scientist salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $134,040 a year, or about $64.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,940 and $165,550.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $134,040 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $97,693 a year ($8,141 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,189 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,862 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #11 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
- Software Developer — $164,560
- Computer Network Architect — $156,360
- Information Security Analyst — $154,990
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $147,590
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $136,410
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $109,790
- Computer User Support Specialist — $74,380