AI / ML Engineer Salary in Colorado (2026)
Average AI / ML Engineer pay in Colorado
$146,790/year
≈ $71/hour before tax
Middle 50% earn $107,090–$166,820
US average: $153,930
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Computer and Information Research Scientists
After tax (single filer)
$105,847/year
$8,821/month · effective tax rate 27.89%
- Federal $23,964
- State $5,750
- FICA $11,229
- Take-home
Pay by role in Colorado
- Senior / Staff MLE / ResearcherBLS · 75th–90th percentile$166,820–$215,090
- ML Engineer (any employer)BLS · middle 50%$107,090–$166,820
- Junior MLE / Applied ScientistBLS · 10th–25th percentile$84,660–$107,090
See the full tax breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $105,847 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $8,821 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $4,071 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $51/hr |
Federal Tax | $23,964 |
State Tax | $5,750 |
FICA Taxes | $11,229 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 27.89% |
Not all AI / ML Engineers earn the same — not even close
Colorado's AI/ML engineering market is anchored by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Denver (Fortune 100 defense, ~14K Denver-area employees including substantial cleared satellite + space systems AI), Ball Aerospace Boulder (cleared aerospace AI), DaVita HQ Denver (Fortune 500 dialysis predictive analytics), UCHealth Anschutz (academic medical AI research), NCAR Boulder (National Center for Atmospheric Research, climate + earth science ML), plus the substantial Boulder + Denver Tech Center commercial AI scene (Trimble, Particle, Rachio).
Senior / Staff MLE / Researcher
$166,820–$215,090
Lockheed Space senior · Ball Aerospace senior · NCAR senior research · academic-industrial hybrid
Source: BLS May 2025 · Computer and Information Research Scientists · Colorado · 75th–90th percentile
ML Engineer (any employer)
$107,090–$166,820
Most common mid-career band · CU Boulder + CSM + UC Denver + USAFA pipeline · cross-industry
Source: BLS May 2025 · Computer and Information Research Scientists · Colorado · middle 50%
Junior MLE / Applied Scientist
$84,660–$107,090
Post-CU Boulder + CSM + UCCS MS/PhD · cleared aerospace + commercial entry band
Source: BLS May 2025 · Computer and Information Research Scientists · Colorado · 10th–25th percentile
Worth knowing: NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) Boulder is the distinctive feature most national AI/ML-career surveys understate for CO. NCAR (federally funded research center operated by UCAR university consortium, ~750 employees in Boulder) operates substantial climate + atmospheric + earth science ML research including the Cheyenne supercomputer (one of the country's most powerful systems for climate modeling). Senior NCAR research scientists clear $135-285K TC with academic-industrial hybrid comp structure. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Denver (Fortune 100, ~14K Denver-area employees, the country's largest space technology employer) operates substantial cleared satellite + space systems AI/ML — GPS III/IIIF satellite operations, orbit determination, sensor fusion, and signals intelligence all involve significant AI/ML. Senior cleared aerospace AI engineers with TS/SCI plus polygraph clearance routinely clear $185-295K TC. Ball Aerospace Boulder (cleared aerospace, post-2024 BAE Systems acquisition closing for ~$5.6B) adds parallel space + defense AI/ML. DaVita HQ Denver (Fortune 500 dialysis, ~25K global employees) operates substantial healthcare predictive analytics. CO's 4.4% flat tax (post-Prop 121; tax year 2025 ran temporarily at 4.25% via TABOR) + TABOR refunds returning $400-1,200 in good years + 0.55% effective property tax (third-lowest in US per Prop 117 cap) creates favorable senior AI/ML tax structure substantially better than peer-state CA + IL + MA.
Sources & Methodology
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction
- →IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 retirement-plan contribution limits
- →IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 — 2026 HSA contribution limits
- →Social Security Administration — 2026 Social Security wage base
- →DR 0104 Individual Income Tax Booklet (CO Department of Revenue)
- →BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — AI / ML Engineer wage data for Colorado
Salary figures are market estimates for AI / ML Engineers in Colorado and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Colorado 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.
Run your own numbers
- Colorado paycheck calculator → · 401(k), HSA, dependents
- RSU calculator → · flat 22% withholding often falls short
- ISO / AMT calculator → · option exercises and AMT
- Capital-gains calculator → · long-term rates, NIIT, state tax
Frequently Asked Questions
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