Entry-level Software Engineer salary in Denver, CO
Based on 230 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Greenwood Village, Englewood, Parker, Centennial, Highlands Ranch.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $94,578 |
| 25th | $94,578 |
| 50th (median) | $98,738 |
| 75th | $110,000 |
| 90th | $125,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $75,000 | $71,677 | $85,000 | 162 |
| FY2021 | $75,192 | $74,256 | $93,630 | 153 |
| FY2022 | $75,200 | $75,192 | $83,720 | 244 |
| FY2023 | $84,000 | $83,720 | $95,000 | 143 |
| FY2024 | $88,600 | $87,443 | $99,803 | 172 |
| FY2025 | $94,578 | $94,578 | $99,570 | 138 |
| FY2026 | $100,600 | $98,738 | $120,000 | 92 |
Cost of living
Denver's median entry-level Software Engineer salary of $98,738 is worth about $93,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Denver = 105.8).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Denver, CO area earned a median of $137,610 in May 2025 (27,010 employed). The H-1B median here is $98,738, 28% 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 | 27 |
| Comcast | $94,578 | 12 |
| Dish Wireless | $94,578 | 11 |
| Charter Communications | $94,578 | 10 |
| DISH Network | $98,738 | 10 |
| Ram Info | too few | 4 |
| Excelacom | too few | 3 |
| Lumen Technologies Service Group | too few | 3 |
| Qwest | too few | 3 |
| Deloitte | 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 | $98,738 | 230 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $120,536 | 776 |
| Senior · Level III | $144,290 | 337 |
| Expert · Level IV | $164,112 | 331 |
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 | $94,578 | $98,738 | 230 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $117,021 | $120,536 | 776 |
| Senior · Level III | $139,443 | $144,290 | 337 |
| Expert · Level IV | $164,112 | $164,112 | 331 |
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.