SOC 15-1251 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Computer Programmers — Boulder
Boulder, CO · 2 metro areas compared
At $155,030 a year, the median wage for Computer Programmers in Boulder, CO sits 54.4% above the national figure of $100,390.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -6.0%
- Openings per year
- 5,500
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
6.2% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Boulder, CO.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $155,030 a year, the median wage for Computer Programmers in Boulder, CO sits 54.4% above the national figure of $100,390. Half of workers earn between $75,780 and $199,830. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $75,780 and the ninetieth at $199,830.
Colorado Springs leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $117,020. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 27th of 414 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,780 | −24.5% |
| 25th | $75,780 | −24.5% |
| Median (50th) | $155,030 | +54.4% |
| 75th | $199,830 | +99.1% |
| 90th | $199,830 | +99.1% |
| Mean | $139,840 | +39.3% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado Springs | $117,020 | 60 | |
| 2 | Denver | $104,610 | 540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boulder run 5.2% above the national average, so the median of $155,030 buys what $147,367 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 46.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$155,030as reported by BLSLocal price level
105.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$147,367US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $155,030 a year, 54.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $75,780 to $199,830 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Colorado Springs, at $117,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Computer Programmers in Boulder, CO?
The median annual wage is $155,030, or $74.54 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $100,390, so pay in Boulder, CO is 54.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Boulder, CO earns more than $199,830 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $75,780 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Colorado Springs, at $117,020 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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