TechnologyUpdated Q1 2026

NLP Engineer Salary
in Denver, CO

Develop natural language processing systems for text analysis, chatbots, and translation. Median salary in Denver: $198K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$198K
per year
Take-home: $130K

Salary range in Denver

Entry level (25th)$148,000
Median (50th)$198,000
Senior (75th)$254,000
Top earner (90th)$321,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Denver, Colorado. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Denver

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

18% premium vs national median

NLP Engineers in Denver earn approximately 18% higher than the US national median for this role β€” a $30,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Denver's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.

Strong 10.2% annual wage growth

This role's national salaries are growing at 10.2% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Denver median reaches $321,790 in five years.

70% remote-eligible

This role is 70% remote-eligible nationally according to job-posting analysis, which significantly expands the job market for Denver-based NLP Engineers. Many Denver professionals in this role are paid on the locality scale of their employer's HQ rather than Denver's local rate β€” verify which scale your offer references before negotiating.

Key facts for Denver

Median salary
$198K
annual
Take-home pay
$130K
after fed/state tax
COL index
118
100 = US avg
State income tax
4.55%
effective rate
Avg 1BR rent
$1,800
per month
YoY growth
+10.2%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Denver NLP Engineer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $198K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Denver

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
NLP Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$166K$181K$195K$210K$224K201920212023202520272029
2026
$203K
projected
2027
$208K
projected
2028
$213K
projected
2029
$219K
projected
2030
$224K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$198,000+$0
2028 projected$198,000+$0
2029 projected$198,000+$0
2030 projected$198,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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NLP Engineer Salary in Denver, Colorado: Complete Guide (2026)

The median NLP Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $198,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Denver–CO metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for NLP Engineer in Denver

Entry-level NLP Engineers in Denver with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $148,000 and $198,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $198,000 to $254,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $254,000 to $321,000 or more.

Cost of living in Denver for NLP Engineers

Denver has a cost of living index of 118 compared to the US national average of 100. Denver's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Colorado has a 4.55% state income tax rate.

Education requirements for NLP Engineer

Master's or PhD in CS or Linguistics. This role is 70% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Denver-based professionals.

NLP Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Denver (current)$198K118
Colorado Springs$165K102
Aurora$185K112
Fort Collins$188K112
Lakewood$193K115
Thornton$181K108