Expert Software Engineer salary in Denver, CO
Based on 331 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $161,886 |
| 25th | $161,886 |
| 50th (median) | $164,112 |
| 75th | $185,900 |
| 90th | $208,451 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $129,000 | $123,219 | $140,000 | 255 |
| FY2021 | $131,843 | $128,898 | $148,650 | 190 |
| FY2022 | $136,518 | $131,685 | $147,514 | 330 |
| FY2023 | $146,999 | $139,984 | $159,385 | 235 |
| FY2024 | $158,695 | $152,069 | $170,000 | 146 |
| FY2025 | $162,113 | $161,886 | $179,358 | 190 |
| FY2026 | $169,000 | $164,112 | $190,700 | 141 |
Cost of living
Denver's median expert Software Engineer salary of $164,112 is worth about $155,100 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 $164,112, 19% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Charter Communications | $161,886 | 53 |
| Charles Schwab & Company | $173,428 | 22 |
| Visa | $161,886 | 17 |
| Deloitte | $164,112 | 13 |
| Western Union | $167,633 | 13 |
| Oracle | $161,886 | 11 |
| EY | too few | 8 |
| Arrow Electronics | too few | 8 |
| Comcast | too few | 5 |
| DISH Network | too few | 5 |
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.