Denver / Boulder, CO • 82% Geo-Band • 4.4% State/Regional Tax
ML Platform / MLOps Engineer Salary in Denver
2026 local compensation bands, state tax drag ($12,890/yr at L5), and purchasing power benchmarks.
L5 Median Total Comp
$292,945
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 | Junior ML Platform Engineer 0 - 2 Years |
$86,100 | $100,040 | $116,440 | $132,840 | 10% / $20,500 | $130,544 |
| L4 | Mid-Level MLOps Engineer 2 - 5 Years |
$118,900 | $137,760 | $159,900 | $180,400 | 12% / $45,100 | $199,391 |
| L5 | Senior ML Platform Engineer 5 - 8 Years |
$151,700 | $176,300 | $205,000 | $237,800 | 15% / $90,200 | $292,945 |
| L6 | Staff ML Infrastructure Architect 8 - 12+ Years |
$192,700 | $225,500 | $266,500 | $315,700 | 20% / $172,200 | $442,800 |
| L7 | Principal AI Infrastructure Fellow 12+ Years |
$241,900 | $282,900 | $336,200 | $405,900 | 25% / $311,600 | $665,225 |
Denver Compensation FAQs
How much does a ML Platform / MLOps Engineer make in Denver in 2026?
Adjusted for Denver (82% market tier), median ML Platform / MLOps Engineer total compensation spans from $130,544 at L3 to $665,225 at L7.
How do taxes and cost of living affect ML Platform / MLOps 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.