Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Boulder, CO make a median of $155,030 a year, or about $74.54 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $200K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.2), so that salary is closer to $147,367 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,033/month, or 21.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $155K actually covers in Boulder, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boulder’s Regional Price Parity (105.2). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Boulder
Boulder sits well above the national pay line for computer programmers, local pay runs about 54% higher than the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,033/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.2), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Boulder offers a genuinely strong financial position for computer programmers at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer programmers in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $105K | $99K |
| Omaha | $95K | $104K |
| Oklahoma City | $93K | $103K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $111K | $110K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $155K. Top earners bring in $200K or more, a $124K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Programmers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $134K | +33% | 1,650 |
| Massachusetts | $128K | +28% | 1,930 |
| Washington | $126K | +25% | 2,540 |
| Maryland | $126K | +25% | 2,490 |
| Virginia | $122K | +21% | 3,070 |
| Hawaii | $118K | +18% | 450 |
| California | $117K | +16% | 11,340 |
| Arkansas | $112K | +11% | 1,050 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +7% | 2,070 |
| New Jersey | $105K | +5% | 3,930 |
| Utah | $105K | +4% | 690 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 930 |
| New York | $104K | +4% | 7,020 |
| Maine | $102K | +1% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $100K | -1% | 990 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -1% | 790 |
| Oregon | $100K | -1% | 1,370 |
| Texas | $99K | -1% | 7,620 |
| Georgia | $98K | -2% | 1,890 |
| Indiana | $97K | -3% | 1,520 |
| Rhode Island | $96K | -4% | 250 |
| Nebraska | $95K | -5% | 1,090 |
| Kentucky | $95K | -6% | 950 |
| Alabama | $94K | -7% | 890 |
| Nevada | $94K | -7% | 840 |
| Florida | $93K | -7% | 4,760 |
| Kansas | $93K | -7% | 460 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 190 |
| Alaska | $92K | -9% | 530 |
| Missouri | $90K | -10% | 1,520 |
| Montana | $90K | -10% | N/A |
| Vermont | $90K | -11% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $89K | -11% | 3,120 |
| Idaho | $89K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $89K | -11% | 1,560 |
| Ohio | $85K | -15% | 2,100 |
| Mississippi | $85K | -15% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $84K | -17% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -19% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 4,120 |
| Iowa | $79K | -21% | 950 |
| New Hampshire | $74K | -26% | N/A |
| Illinois | $73K | -28% | 1,280 |
| Michigan | $66K | -34% | 4,400 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -35% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $58K | -42% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer programmers salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?
Yes — at the median salary of $155K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,033/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,864/month. At HUD’s $2,033/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay is 54% above the national median — $155K here vs. $100K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Boulder pays $155K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +54%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $155,030 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,780, and experienced computer programmers can clear $199,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $155K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,158/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,033/month, which eats 22.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 105.2 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $147,367 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.