Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Denver, CO vs Houston, TX

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Denver, CO
$163,258
/ year
+19%
difference
Houston, TX
$136,698
/ year
Bottom line: Denver wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$163,258✓ higher
$136,698
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$105,578✓ higher
$88,402
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$252,450✓ higher
$211,379
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$109,246✓ higher
$93,217
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$143,209✓ higher
$139,488
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$105,578✓ higher
$88,402
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$252,450✓ higher
$211,379

What if you move from Denver to Houston?

Gross salary change
$26,560
19% decrease
Take-home change
$16,029
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,721
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Denver, CO$163,258
P10: $105,578Median: $163,258P90: $252,450
Houston, TX$136,698
P10: $88,402Median: $136,698P90: $211,379

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Denver or Houston?

The median Data Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $163,258/yr compared to $136,698/yr in Houston, TX. Denver pays 19% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Denver or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $143,209/yr in a median-cost city, vs $139,488/yr for Houston. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Denver vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $109,246/yr, vs $93,217/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.