Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Denver: $178K Median
Machine Learning Engineers in Denver, CO earn between $121K and $325K per year.
That's +10% above the US national median of $162,000 for this role.
As of April 2026, the median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $178,200 per year — +10% above the US national median of $162,000. Salaries range from $121,000 (entry, 25th percentile) to $324,500 (90th percentile). Machine Learning Engineers in Denver earned approximately $28,742 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.
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About Machine Learning Engineers in Denver
ML engineers design, build, and deploy machine learning models at scale, bridging research and production engineering.
Core Responsibilities
- Model development and training
- Production ML pipelines
- Feature engineering
- Model evaluation
- MLOps
Education & Certifications
Typical path: Master's or PhD preferred (Bachelor's with strong portfolio acceptable)
In-demand certifications
Denver Job Market
Growing tech and aerospace hub with strong outdoor lifestyle appeal.
Top Industries in Denver
Top Employers Hiring Machine Learning Engineers
Major employers active in Denver or hiring remotely from this metro.
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 Machine Learning Engineer listings.
ATS Resume Keywords
Include these naturally throughout your resume.
ML engineering demand exploded 40%+ in 2025-2026 with the GenAI boom. Frontier labs paying $500K+ for senior roles.
Machine Learning Engineer Salary Breakdown — Denver
| Period | Entry (25th) | Median (50th) | Top (90th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $121,000 | $178,200 | $324,500 |
| Monthly | $10,083 | $14,850 | $27,042 |
| Weekly | $2,327 | $3,427 | $6,240 |
| Hourly | $58 | $86 | $156 |
Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($162,000) adjusted for Denver's cost-of-living multiplier (1.10×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).
Machine Learning Engineer Take-Home Pay in Denver
After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.
Tax Breakdown on $178,200
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.
Machine Learning Engineer Salary by Experience — Denver
Career-stage progression for Machine Learning Engineers in Denver.
| Experience | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 0–1 yr | $131,560 |
| 2–3 yr | $143,000 |
| 4–6 yr | $209,000 |
| 7–10 yr | $275,000 |
| 11–15 yr | $324,500 |
| 15+ yr | $299,750 |
Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Denver's 1.10× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.
+520.0% vs 2025
Technology sector growth driven by demand for LLMs and PyTorch.
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.
How to Negotiate Your Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Denver
Walk-away anchor: $154,957 (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
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 $275K–$325K for experienced roles, citing Denver market data and your specific LLMs/PyTorch expertise.
Machine Learning Engineer Salary FAQ — Denver
What is the average Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver, CO?
Is $178,200 a good Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver?
Can you live on $178,200 in Denver?
Is $178,200 enough for a single person in Denver?
Is $178,200 enough for a couple in Denver?
Is $178,200 enough for a family of 4 in Denver?
What is the take-home pay for a Machine Learning Engineer in Denver?
How much do Machine Learning Engineers in Denver earn compared to the US average?
What does an entry-level Machine Learning Engineer earn in Denver?
Did Machine Learning Engineer salaries in Denver increase in 2026?
What's the job outlook for Machine Learning Engineers in Denver?
What skills are most in demand for Machine Learning Engineers in 2026?
Who are the top employers hiring Machine Learning Engineers in Denver?
How do I negotiate a higher Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver?
How can I increase my Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver?
What education do I need to become a Machine Learning Engineer in Denver?
Methodology & Sources
Machine Learning Engineer salary figures for Denver are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($162,000) 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.
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Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Other Cities
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