Senior Software Engineer salary in Denver, CO
Based on 337 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $139,443 |
| 25th | $142,314 |
| 50th (median) | $144,290 |
| 75th | $161,000 |
| 90th | $181,900 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $110,677 | $106,038 | $120,000 | 381 |
| FY2021 | $116,000 | $110,677 | $125,000 | 343 |
| FY2022 | $121,222 | $112,861 | $128,825 | 375 |
| FY2023 | $130,520 | $121,222 | $140,000 | 282 |
| FY2024 | $139,443 | $130,520 | $157,300 | 234 |
| FY2025 | $144,290 | $139,443 | $163,000 | 211 |
| FY2026 | $143,462 | $142,314 | $160,075 | 126 |
Cost of living
Denver's median senior Software Engineer salary of $144,290 is worth about $136,400 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 $144,290, 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| DISH Network | $142,314 | 34 |
| Amazon | $160,000 | 18 |
| Charter Communications | $139,443 | 18 |
| EY | $185,850 | 11 |
| Charles Schwab & Company | $160,000 | 10 |
| Dish Wireless | $142,314 | 10 |
| Capgemini America | too few | 9 |
| Microsoft | too few | 9 |
| Walmart | too few | 9 |
| Oracle | too few | 8 |
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.