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2026 Salary Data — Denver, CO
Updated April 28, 2026

DevOps Engineer Salary in Denver: $143K Median

DevOps Engineers in Denver, CO earn between $105K and $215K per year.

That's +10% above the US national median of $130,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median DevOps Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $143,000 per year — +10% above the US national median of $130,000. Salaries range from $104,500 (entry, 25th percentile) to $214,500 (90th percentile). DevOps Engineers in Denver earned approximately $23,065 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$143,000
+520.0% YoY · $11,917/mo
Entry
$104,500
0–2 years
Experienced
$198,000
5+ years
Top 10%
$214,500
Senior/lead
DevOps Engineer Salary — Denver vs Nearby
Denver
$143K
Colorado Springs
$130K
+10% vs Denver
Baltimore
$143K
+0% vs Denver
Austin
$150K
-4% vs Denver

Free ATS scan · Denver employers · Results in 60 seconds

About DevOps Engineers in Denver

DevOps engineers automate infrastructure, manage deployment pipelines, and ensure reliable operations through code.

Core Responsibilities

  • CI/CD pipeline management
  • Infrastructure as code
  • Cloud architecture
  • Monitoring and incident response
  • Container orchestration

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience)

In-demand certifications

AWS Solutions ArchitectKubernetes (CKA/CKAD)Terraform AssociateGoogle Cloud Engineer

Denver Job Market

Growing tech and aerospace hub with strong outdoor lifestyle appeal.

Population
716K
Cost of Living
115
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.6%
Median Home
$575K

Top Industries in Denver

AerospaceTechEnergyFinanceTourism

Top Employers Hiring DevOps Engineers

Major employers active in Denver or hiring remotely from this metro.

AWS
Google Cloud
Microsoft
Netflix
Uber
Airbnb
Stripe
Datadog

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying DevOps Engineer listings.

KubernetesTerraformAWS/GCPObservabilityPlatform engineeringGitOps

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

KubernetesDockerAWSTerraformAnsibleCI/CDJenkinsGitLabmonitoring (Datadog)Linux
Career Outlook
+21% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

DevOps engineer demand growing 21% — among the highest in tech. SRE and platform engineering roles command $200K+.

DevOps Engineer Salary Breakdown — Denver

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$104,500$143,000$214,500
Monthly$8,708$11,917$17,875
Weekly$2,010$2,750$4,125
Hourly$50$69$103

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($130,000) adjusted for Denver's cost-of-living multiplier (1.10×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

DevOps Engineer Take-Home Pay in Denver

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$102,105.5
Per month$8,509
Biweekly paycheck$3,927
Effective tax rate28.6%

Tax Breakdown on $143,000

Gross salary$143,000
Federal income tax−$23,663
Colorado state tax−$6,292
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$10,939.5
Take-home (net)$102,105.5

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

DevOps Engineer Salary by Experience — Denver

Career-stage progression for DevOps Engineers in Denver.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$96,140
2–3 yr$104,500
4–6 yr$151,250
7–10 yr$198,000
11–15 yr$233,640
15+ yr$206,250

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Denver's 1.10× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$23,065
2026 median:$143,000
Change:+$119,935

Technology sector growth driven by demand for Kubernetes and Terraform.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$124,348
Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.

How to Negotiate Your DevOps Engineer Salary in Denver

Walk-away anchor: $124,348 (offers below this are below market for Denver).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $198K–$215K for experienced roles, citing Denver market data and your specific Kubernetes/Terraform expertise.

DevOps Engineer Salary FAQ — Denver

What is the average DevOps Engineer salary in Denver, CO?
The average DevOps Engineer salary in Denver is $143,000 per year as of April 2026 — $11,917/month, $2,750/week, or about $69/hour. Salaries range from $104,500 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $214,500 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Denver's cost-of-living multiplier (1.10×).
Is $143,000 a good DevOps Engineer salary in Denver?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Denver's cost-of-living index is 115 (vs 100 nationally), giving $143,000 a real purchasing power of approximately $124,348 in national terms. Solidly middle-class on the median - manageable, but disciplined budgeting is needed to save aggressively or buy a home.
Can you live on $143,000 in Denver?
Dual-income households support a comfortable family lifestyle. Single-earner families on the median may need to compromise on neighborhood, square footage, or college savings. Aim for 28-30% of pre-tax income on rent. The classic 30% rule still works here, though housing costs are creeping up faster than wages. For Denver specifically (median home price $575,000), a $143,000 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $143,000 enough for a single person in Denver?
A single adult in Denver typically needs ~$51,750 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $143,000 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $143,000 enough for a couple in Denver?
A couple (one earner) in Denver typically needs ~$82,800 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $143,000 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $143,000 each ($286,000 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $143,000 enough for a family of 4 in Denver?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Denver typically needs ~$126,500 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $143,000 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single DevOps Engineer income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Denver typically run $17K-$32K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a DevOps Engineer in Denver?
On a $143,000 DevOps Engineer salary in Denver, CO, you take home approximately $102,105.5 per year ($8,509/month, $3,927 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $23,663, state $6,292, FICA $10,939.5. Effective tax rate: 28.6%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do DevOps Engineers in Denver earn compared to the US average?
DevOps Engineers in Denver earn approximately 10% more than the US national median for this role ($130,000 nationally vs $143,000 in Denver). However, Denver's cost-of-living index of 115 means real purchasing power is approximately $124,348 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level DevOps Engineer earn in Denver?
Entry-level DevOps Engineers in Denver typically start at around $104,500 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, DevOps Engineers earn $198,000 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $214,500+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did DevOps Engineer salaries in Denver increase in 2026?
Yes — DevOps Engineer salaries in Denver grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $23,065 in 2025 to $143,000 in 2026 (+$119,935). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by Kubernetes and Terraform demand.
What's the job outlook for DevOps Engineers in Denver?
DevOps engineer demand growing 21% — among the highest in tech. SRE and platform engineering roles command $200K+. Denver's top industries include Aerospace, Tech, Energy, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.6% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
What skills are most in demand for DevOps Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for DevOps Engineers are: Kubernetes, Terraform, AWS/GCP, Observability, Platform engineering, GitOps. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Denver.
Who are the top employers hiring DevOps Engineers in Denver?
Top employers hiring DevOps Engineers in or near Denver include: AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher DevOps Engineer salary in Denver?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my DevOps Engineer salary in Denver?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (Kubernetes, Terraform, AWS/GCP) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect or Kubernetes (CKA/CKAD)). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a DevOps Engineer in Denver?
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) is the typical path. However, Denver's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

DevOps Engineer salary figures for Denver are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($130,000) by Denver's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.10× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Denver

Software Engineer →Data Scientist →Product Manager →Web Developer →Cybersecurity Analyst →Machine Learning Engineer →

DevOps Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Austin, TX$150KPortland, OR$143KBaltimore, MD$143KSacramento, CA$140KColorado Springs, CO$130KMinneapolis, MN$143K

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