Software Developer Salary in Boulder, CO
Software Developers in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $164,560 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $117,211 take-home, or $9,768 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$28,228
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,203
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,386
- Colorado income tax$6,532
- Take-home pay$117,211
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,880 | $49.46 | $77,388 | $6,449 |
| 25th percentile | $129,210 | $62.12 | $94,604 | $7,884 |
| Median (50th) | $164,560 | $79.12 | $117,211 | $9,768 |
| 75th percentile | $206,650 | $99.35 | $145,441 | $12,120 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $235,660 | $113.30 | $164,107 | $13,676 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $164,560 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 software developer's $117,211 take-home pay has the buying power of $111,415 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 3.4× the national concentration of software developer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #4 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $134,280
- Fort Collins, CO — $133,990
- Greeley, CO — $129,480
- Denver, CO — $137,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Boulder, CO?
The median software developer salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $164,560 a year, or about $79.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $129,210 and $206,650.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $164,560 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $117,211 a year ($9,768 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,532 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $111,415 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #4 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 18% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
- Computer Network Architect — $156,360
- Information Security Analyst — $154,990
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $147,590
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $136,410
- Data Scientist — $134,040
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $109,790
- Computer User Support Specialist — $74,380