BairesDev
  1. National
  2. Colorado

Software Engineering Talent: Supply vs Demand in Colorado.

2.28% of US computer science grads come from Colorado each year. Discover where most of them come from, and their job prospects. Identify emerging talent hubs, in-demand skills, and salary progression patterns.

Compare Colorado with another state
34.3k
Job Listings1.48m national total
3.1k
Graduates137.5k national total
26
Educational Institutions2,022 national total
11.0
Jobs per graduate10.8 national average
34%
Entry level jobs29% national average
$120k
Average Salary$129k national average
We analyzed data from:Graduate data - National Center for Education Statistics (2022)Employment data - Online job listings (2023)Composite Cost of Living - Index Q1 (2024)Population data - US Census Bureau (2022)

Where are Colorado computer science grads coming from?

Top cities producing the most CS grads

Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs produced the highest number of CS grads. This represents 54.14% of the total CS grads from Colorado.

Uncover other talent hubs with this interactive map.

Curious how this data compares to another state?
Use our comparison tool below.

Top institutions producing the most CS grads

Colorado produces 3,118 of CS grads each year.

We've identified the top institutions supplying the highest number of future software engineers. University of Colorado Boulder came out on top, with 558 CS grads. This represents 17.9% of total grads in Colorado.

Whether you're an employer recruiting rising tech talent or a student planning your academic career, these are definitely the schools to watch.

In-demand skills & job market outlook for Colorado.

Top Colorado cities with the highest number of job opportunities

Explore the Colorado cities with the highest number of software engineering jobs.

39.45% of all job postings in Colorado come from Denver.

Most in-demand technical skills

Learning in-demand programming languages and technologies is essential for staying ahead of the curve in a competitive job market.

Here are the most sought-after skills in Colorado. Java was most in-demand, mentioned in 20.1% of the software engineering job postings we analyzed.

Average salary and job availability by education level

We analyzed 34,085 job postings in Colorado.

Here's an overview of how many jobs are available at each education level, and the mean salary.

Salaries by seniority in Colorado

Earning potential is an essential factor to consider when laying the groundwork for a career in software engineering.

This chart shows the median salaries for software engineers at different stages of their career.

While an entry-level software engineer in Colorado can expect to earn $112,060, that figure jumps to $154,960 for senior tech talent, representing a 38.3% increase.

Additional info about Colorado's talent landscape.

  • Mountain Tech Startups: Colorado's picturesque mountain towns, like Boulder and Aspen, are known for their growing tech startup scenes. While Aspen is more renowned for its lifestyle and tourism, Boulder stands out as a hub for tech innovation. Software engineers in these areas enjoy a unique blend of cutting-edge work environments and breathtaking natural scenery.
  • Tech Events with a Scenic Twist: Colorado is known for its tech events and hackathons, many of which take advantage of the stunning natural landscapes, like the Rocky Mountains. Software engineers participating in these events get to blend professional development with unique outdoor experiences, such as exploring the Rocky Mountains.
  • Aerospace Opportunities: Colorado's growing aerospace sector offers exciting potential for software engineers. The state's concentration of aerospace companies and research institutions creates opportunities to work on satellite systems, space mission software, and data analysis tools for Earth observation.
  • Outdoor Recreation Tech: Thanks to its mountainous terrain,Colorado presents unique possibilities in outdoor recreation technology. Software developers with a love for the great outdoors may enjoy working on projects involving advanced mapping applications, wearable tech for extreme sports, or immersive hiking experiences.
  • Renewable Energy Innovation: Colorado's strong commitment to clean energy and renewable energy opens doors for software professionals interested in green tech. Developers can find themselves developing advanced energy management systems, creating software for optimizing solar and wind farm operations, and designing smart grid solutions to enhance electricity distribution and integration of renewable energy sources.
  • Tech for Natural Resource Management: Given Colorado's diverse ecosystems and environmental challenges, there's ample opportunity in natural resource management. Software engineers who want to contribute to environmental stewardship might find themselves developing systems for water conservation, creating wildfire prediction models to enhance prevention and response efforts, and designing wildlife tracking applications to support conservation and management of animal populations.
  • Smart City Initiatives: Colorado's urban centers, particularly Denver, are proactively embracing smart city technologies. This focus allows tech professionals the chance to enhance city infrastructure and services through initiatives that promote smarter urban planning, optimize public transportation systems, and improve air quality monitoring.

Compare Colorado with another state.

Where are the most promising opportunities? Find out how different hubs compare in terms of job availability, cost of living, and earning potential.

*Calculated based on US average of 100. Numbers higher than 100 relate to a higher cost of living.

Back to top
By continuing to use this site, you agree to our cookie policy and privacy policy.