Salary Comparison

Machine Learning 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
$187,822
/ year
+17%
difference
Houston, TX
$160,805
/ 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
$187,822✓ higher
$160,805
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$121,464✓ higher
$103,992
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$290,434✓ higher
$248,657
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$125,541✓ higher
$107,765
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$164,756✓ higher
$164,087
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$121,464✓ higher
$103,992
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$290,434✓ higher
$248,657

What if you move from Denver to Houston?

Gross salary change
$27,017
17% decrease
Take-home change
$17,776
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$669
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$187,822
P10: $121,464Median: $187,822P90: $290,434
Houston, TX$160,805
P10: $103,992Median: $160,805P90: $248,657

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Machine Learning Engineer earn more in Denver or Houston?

The median Machine Learning Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $187,822/yr compared to $160,805/yr in Houston, TX. Denver pays 17% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Machine Learning 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 $164,756/yr in a median-cost city, vs $164,087/yr for Houston. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Machine Learning Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $125,541/yr, vs $107,765/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.