Denver / Boulder, CO • 82% Geo-Band • 4.4% State/Regional Tax
Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer Salary in Denver
2026 local compensation bands, state tax drag ($11,561/yr at L5), and purchasing power benchmarks.
L5 Median Total Comp
$262,761
Cost of Living Index
76 / 100
Real Purchasing Power vs SF
114%
Median Home Price
$620,000
| Level | Title & Experience | 25th %ile Base | Median Base (P50) | 75th %ile Base | 90th %ile Base | Bonus / Equity | Median Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L3 | Associate Data Scientist / ML Engineer 0 - 2 Years |
$69,700 | $83,640 | $100,040 | $114,800 | 10% / $14,760 | $106,764 |
| L4 | Data Scientist / ML Engineer II 2 - 5 Years |
$102,500 | $121,360 | $145,960 | $168,100 | 12% / $28,700 | $164,623 |
| L5 | Senior Machine Learning Engineer 5 - 8 Years |
$143,500 | $170,560 | $205,000 | $241,900 | 18% / $61,500 | $262,761 |
| L6 | Staff / Principal AI Scientist 8 - 12+ Years |
$196,800 | $233,700 | $287,000 | $344,400 | 22% / $131,200 | $416,314 |
Denver Compensation FAQs
How much does a Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer make in Denver in 2026?
Adjusted for Denver (82% market tier), median Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer total compensation spans from $106,764 at L3 to $416,314 at L6.
How do taxes and cost of living affect Data Scientist & Machine Learning Engineer pay in Denver?
Denver carries an estimated 4.4% state/regional income tax rate and a 76/100 cost-of-living index (median home $620,000), giving roughly 114% real purchasing power compared to San Francisco.