Market ranges & how to evaluate your offer
Most offers in Denver fall between $152k–$315k depending on seniority, location, and role scope.
Local vs National
Denver pays 15.3% less than the national typical
Salary data is self-reported and varies by scope, company, and location. Use ranges, not single numbers.
Compare your total comp for Software Engineer — pick seniority, enter an offer, and preview the layout. Percentiles use your selected seniority when market data is available.
Seniority-level breakdown for this market.
Cost of living breakdown for Denver, CO market.
Estimated monthly costs for this basket run about 109% of our comparable national baseline—plan for higher everyday spend than typical US markets.
How the estimated monthly cost bundle splits across categories for a typical Software Engineer earner.
$2,658.51/ mo
HOUSING
$2,149.49 USD (80.9% of est. monthly costs)
FOOD
$244.64 USD (9.2% of est. monthly costs)
TRANSPORT
$114.00 USD (4.3% of est. monthly costs)
LIFESTYLE
$150.38 USD (5.7% of est. monthly costs)
Housing dominates Denver's monthly budget at $2,149, with rent for a 1-bedroom city center apartment reaching $1,893. Basic utilities add $154 monthly, while high-speed internet costs $74, creating a substantial fixed expense base that leaves limited room for other categories.
Food expenses total $245 monthly in Denver, with restaurant meals averaging $18 and basic groceries like chicken fillets at $14.49 per kg. The relatively moderate food costs compared to housing suggest Denver offers reasonable dining options without the premium pricing seen in top-tier coastal markets.
Denver's public transit costs $114 monthly for a regular pass, reflecting the city's light rail and bus system that connects downtown to surrounding neighborhoods and the airport. This single transit option suggests many professionals rely on the RTD system for daily commuting across the metro area.
Discretionary spending totals $150 monthly, with gym memberships at $73 and movie tickets at $14 representing typical recreational costs. At $4.92 for cappuccinos, Denver's lifestyle expenses align with other mid-tier US cities, offering reasonable entertainment and fitness options for professionals.
Salary data only matters if you land the interview. Get a free AI-powered resume review and see how yours stacks up.
Location-specific ranges with optional cost-of-living adjustment.
Median compensation, hiring momentum, and pay mix for Software Engineers in this market.
Twilio
+33.3% YoY Hiring$206k
Mostly hires: IC1
Lockheed Martin
+66.7% YoY Hiring$126k
Mostly hires: E3
Visa
+100% YoY Hiring$135k
Mostly hires: Software Engineer
VMware
-100% YoY Hiring$156k
Mostly hires: MTS 2
Gusto
+100% YoY Hiring$183k
Mostly hires: L2
Boeing
+100% YoY Hiring$148k
Mostly hires: L3
Software Engineer remote compensation varies significantly between location-adjusted and national pay bands. Companies like Google and Meta typically adjust salaries based on employee location, with San Francisco rates 20-30% higher than Austin or Denver. Conversely, companies like GitLab and Buffer offer location-agnostic pay, providing equal compensation regardless of where engineers work.
The hybrid work trend has created tiered compensation models for Software Engineers, with many companies offering 90-95% of on-site pay for hybrid roles. When negotiating remote positions, emphasize your ability to deliver results independently and highlight successful remote collaboration experiences. Consider negotiating for equity or professional development budgets to offset any location-based pay reductions.
Moving from expensive metros like San Francisco ($180K average) to lower-cost areas while maintaining remote work can dramatically improve purchasing power. A Software Engineer earning $160K remotely in Nashville has equivalent buying power to someone making $220K in San Francisco, effectively providing a 25-30% lifestyle upgrade through geographic arbitrage.
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How adjacent roles compare in pay and scope.
$132k-$573k
High overlap in product-manager roles
Details$120k-$416k
High overlap in data-scientist roles
Details$110k-$390k
High overlap in product-designer roles
Details$117k-$400k
High overlap in product-designer roles
Details$140k-$478k
High overlap in technical-program-manager roles
Details$127k-$388k
High overlap in solution-architect roles
DetailsPractical steps that move the number without damaging the relationship.
Start your ask above the median. You'll rarely be offered more than you ask, so anchor high and let the employer negotiate you down.
Stronger approach:
Say 'market data puts this role at $X–$Y' — not 'I was hoping for more'. External benchmarks are harder to argue against than personal expectations.
Stronger approach:
When base is stuck, negotiate equity vesting schedule, signing bonus, or accelerated refresh grants. Total comp has more levers than base alone.
Stronger approach:
Ask for 48 hours to review. This creates time to counter and signals that you take offers seriously — not that you are uncertain.
Stronger approach:
Generate an aware negotiation email using Google market positioning data.
Mock interviews tailored to Google's process and evaluation criteria.
Common questions about Software Engineer compensation.
Tools built for professionals evaluating offers and preparing for interviews.
Our AI Interview Copilot listens to your live interview and feeds you real-time answers, so you walk in confident and walk out with the offer.
"I used the salary data to benchmark my offer, then generated a negotiation email. Got a 12% bump without a single awkward conversation."
