Data Scientist Salary in Denver, Colorado (2026)
Median base salary of $146,000/year for Data Scientist professionals in Denver. Full breakdown by experience level, take-home estimates, and market context.
Median Salary
$146,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$70/hr
40 hrs/wk
Monthly Pay
$12,167
before taxes
Est. Take-Home
$93,367
after taxes/yr
Data Scientist Salary by Experience — Denver
| Level | Annual | Monthly | Hourly | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48/hr | $63,310 |
| 25th Percentile | $116,000 | $9,667 | $56/hr | $74,182 |
| Median | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70/hr | $93,367 |
| 75th Percentile | $188,000 | $15,667 | $90/hr | $105,186 |
| Senior (8+ yrs) | $212,000 | $17,667 | $102/hr | $118,614 |
City salary estimated from Colorado median with a +10% Denver market adjustment. Take-home after federal, FICA, and Colorado state taxes (4.4%).
Denver vs. Colorado Statewide
Denver Median
$146,000
City-level estimate
Colorado Statewide
$133,000
State median baseline
Data Scientist professionals in Denver earn approximately 10% more than the Colorado statewide median, reflecting Denver's higher cost of living and local demand for tech talent.
Cost of Living in Denver
Cost of Living Index
138
100 = US average
Median 1BR Rent
$1,900/mo
city median
Annual Rent Burden
$22,800
per year
Rent as % of Salary
16%
of median salary
Denver's cost of living index of 138 means it is 38% more expensive than the US average. At the median Data Scientist salary of $146,000, housing costs represent approximately 16% of gross income — within the recommended 30% guideline.
Top Data Scientist Employers in Denver
Companies actively hiring Data Scientist professionals in the Denver area.
Denver's tech scene has grown rapidly driven by aerospace, fintech, and a major influx of remote workers from coastal cities, pushing salaries upward.
Data Scientist Job Market in Denver
Denver is one of Colorado's highest-paying market for Data Scientist professionals, with a population of approximately 750K and a thriving technology sector. The median base salary of $146,000/year reflects both local demand for Python and Machine Learning expertise, and the city's cost of living index of 138 relative to the national average of 100.
At the entry level, a Data Scientist in Denver can expect to earn approximately $99,000/year. Senior professionals with 8+ years of experience typically command $212,000/year or more, particularly at larger technology companies or those with in-demand specializations in SQL.
Total compensation — including equity, annual bonuses, and benefits — often adds 20–50% above base salary for Data Scientist roles at growth-stage companies. When evaluating an offer in Denver, always ask about the full compensation package, not just base salary.
Data Scientist Salaries in Other Colorado Cities
Related Roles in Denver
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Editorial Standards & Data Methodology
Data Sources
Salary ranges on CareerOS are derived from multiple independent sources:
- •U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
- •LinkedIn Salary Insights
- •Glassdoor Compensation Reports
- •Levels.fyi (tech roles)
- •Indeed Salary Data
Our Methodology
Salary figures represent base compensation only and exclude equity, bonuses, and benefits. Ranges show the 25th–75th percentile for full-time employees in each location. Data is weighted toward recent postings (last 12 months). Take-home estimates apply federal income tax, FICA (7.65%), and applicable state taxes.
Editorial Process
All pages are reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated quarterly. We cross-reference data across sources before publishing any salary range.
Last Updated: May 2026
Review Cycle: Quarterly
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Actual compensation varies.