Technology Fort Collins, CO Pop. 169,810

Data Engineer Salary in Fort Collins, Colorado

The median data engineer salary in Fort Collins, CO is $142,500 per year, which is 14.0% above the national median and 0.9% above the Colorado state average.

City Median
$142,500
vs State Avg
+$1,250
vs National
+$17,500
Cost of Living
106%

Data Engineer Pay in Fort Collins: What to Expect (2026)

Fort Collins offers a median data engineer salary of $142,500, which is $1,250 above the Colorado state average of $141,250. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Fort Collins pays above average for this role.

Fort Collins's cost of living is 106% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data engineers in Fort Collins spans from $88,920 at the 10th percentile to $216,600 at the 90th percentile — a $127,680 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $91,200, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $205,200. With a population of 169,810, Fort Collins is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Fort Collins by Experience

In Fort Collins, an entry-level data engineer earns around $91,200, while experienced professionals earn up to $205,200 per year. The local cost of living index is 106% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$91,200
+$11,200 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$144,780
+$17,780 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$205,200
+$25,200 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Fort Collins, CO

Percentile Fort Collins
10th Percentile $88,920
25th Percentile $114,000
Median (50th) $142,500
75th Percentile $180,120
90th Percentile $216,600

Data Engineer Salary in Other Colorado Cities

Boulder, CO
$170,000
Pop. 105,673
Denver, CO
$150,000
Pop. 715,522
Aurora, CO
$141,250
Pop. 386,261
Colorado Springs, CO
$135,000
Pop. 478,961

How to Become a Data Engineer in Fort Collins

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Fort Collins and the surrounding Colorado area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonSQLSparkAirflowAWS/GCPData Modeling

Job Outlook

Nationally, data engineer employment is projected to grow 28% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Fort Collins may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Fort Collins

Browse open data engineer positions in Fort Collins, CO:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Fort Collins

How much does a Data Engineer make in Fort Collins, CO? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Fort Collins, Colorado is $142,500 per year, which is 14.0% above the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $88,920 (10th percentile) to $216,600 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Fort Collins? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $142,500, a data engineer in Fort Collins earns approximately $69 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Fort Collins compare to the Colorado state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Fort Collins's median data engineer salary of $142,500 is 0.9% above the Colorado state average of $141,250. The local cost of living index is 106% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Fort Collins, CO? ▼
Fort Collins has a cost of living index of 106% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $142,500 in Fort Collins has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Fort Collins? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Fort Collins require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. The job market is projected to grow 28% nationally over the next decade.