Salary Comparison

iOS Developer 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
$155,529
/ year
+14%
difference
Houston, TX
$136,981
/ year
Bottom line: Houston offers better purchasing power despite Denver paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Denver
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$155,529โœ“ higher
$136,981
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$100,580โœ“ higher
$88,585
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$240,498โœ“ higher
$211,817
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$104,581โœ“ higher
$93,388
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$136,429
$139,777โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14ร—
0.98ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$100,580โœ“ higher
$88,585
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$240,498โœ“ higher
$211,817

What if you move from Denver to Houston?

Gross salary change
$18,548
14% decrease
Take-home change
$11,193
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$3,348
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Denver, CO$155,529
P10: $100,580Median: $155,529P90: $240,498
Houston, TX$136,981
P10: $88,585Median: $136,981P90: $211,817

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a iOS Developer earn more in Denver or Houston?

The median iOS Developer salary in Denver, CO is $155,529/yr compared to $136,981/yr in Houston, TX. Denver pays 14% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a iOS Developer 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 $136,429/yr in a median-cost city, vs $139,777/yr for Houston. Houston offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a iOS Developer in Denver vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a iOS Developer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $104,581/yr, vs $93,388/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.