Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Boulder, CO
Based on 43 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boulder, CO metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Erie.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $101,796 |
| 25th | $106,246 |
| 50th (median) | $110,000 |
| 75th | $129,000 |
| 90th | $137,820 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $81,000 | $69,216 | $95,000 | 27 |
| FY2021 | $76,000 | $75,275 | $88,000 | 10 |
| FY2022 | $77,600 | $75,525 | $123,370 | 28 |
| FY2023 | $94,640 | $82,826 | $120,200 | 21 |
| FY2024 | $105,000 | $100,850 | $117,500 | 15 |
| FY2025 | $110,000 | $103,000 | $129,000 | 26 |
| FY2026 | $121,639 | $108,000 | $129,000 | 17 |
Cost of living
Boulder's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $110,000 is worth about $104,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boulder = 105.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Boulder, CO area earned a median of $164,560 in May 2025 (7,130 employed). The H-1B median here is $110,000, 33% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $129,000 | 10 |
| Ricoh | too few | 7 |
| Government Employee Insurance Company (GEICO) | too few | 4 |
| Union Pacific Railroad Company | too few | 3 |
| TIFIN Payroll | too few | 2 |
| Workday | too few | 2 |
| Zia Consulting | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $110,000 | 43 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $152,100 | 93 |
| Senior · Level III | $185,869 | 31 |
| Expert · Level IV | $225,680 | 15 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $101,670 | $110,000 | 43 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $141,960 | $152,100 | 93 |
| Senior · Level III | $185,869 | $185,869 | 31 |
| Expert · Level IV | $222,539 | $225,680 | 15 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.