See The 7 Best Paying Tech Jobs in Denver Today

Key Points

• Denver is emerging as a thriving tech hub, attracting numerous tech companies and startups.
• The highest-paying tech jobs in Denver include Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Software Architect, DevOps Engineer, Cybersecurity Engineer, Full-stack Developer, and Cloud Solutions Architect.
• Data scientists in Denver earn an average salary of $129,092 per year, while machine learning engineers make around $132,715 per year.
• Software architects in Denver earn about $141,454 per year, and DevOps engineers make a base salary of $128,859 per year.
• Cybersecurity engineers in Denver earn an average of $132,519 per year, while full-stack developers make an average of $126,010 per year.
• Cloud solutions architects in Denver earn about $127,703 per year and oversee a business’ cloud computing strategy.

Move over San Francisco; Denver is scrambling to be the new tech hub. It’s known for its stunning mountain views and outdoor recreational opportunities, but the rising amount of tech jobs in Denver are helping it be recognized for its thriving tech industry. With technology becoming the core of our lives, Denver has emerged as a hotbed for tech talent, attracting numerous tech companies and startups.

Here are the highest-paying tech jobs in Denver:

Data Scientist: $129,092 pa

Data scientists are a hot commodity right now, and industries like technology, finance, healthcare and e-commerce are constantly searching for data scientists. According to a report by Indeed, the average salary for a data scientist in Denver is around $129,092 per year. 

What Does a Data Scientist Do?

They use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. They apply machine learning techniques, statistical models, and predictive analytics to make informed decisions and solve complex business problems.

How to Become a Data Scientist

You will need to know how to code, especially in specific programming languages like Python or R. Scraping data and organizing and visualizing it are also key roles of a data scientist. Brush up on your mathematical skills as well as your understanding of databases. To be successful, you also need to know how to work with big data. And with A.I. disrupting everything right now, you should have a solid understanding of machine learning as well. 

Most technical colleges offer programs in data science, including CalTech and MIT. 

Machine Learning Engineer: $132,715 pa

Machine learning is becoming a critical part of technology, and the prospects for a machine learning engineer have never been hotter, making it one of the hottest tech jobs in Denver. These engineers are at the heart of implementing the algorithms we use daily. According to Indeed, a machine learning engineer makes around $132,715 USD per year in base salary. 

What Does a Machine Learning Engineer Do?

Mostly, they build A.I.-type systems. From voice recognition software to search engines like Google to self-driving cars, machine learning engineers produce the tools that make our lives easier. In short, they are software engineers who use data science and programming to create machine learning models. 

How to Become a Machine Learning Engineer

To start, know your math and data science. Fluency in programming languages such as Java and Scala is key, as are machine learning programs such as TensorFlow and Scikit-learn. Most tech colleges offer a machine learning engineering degree, but you can also do intensive boot camps on sites like Udacity. 

Software Architect: $141,454 pa

Where do you start when building software? With a software architect. Software architects lay the groundwork for software programs, setting the structure for the program. Without software architects, software programs could never be built. According to Indeed, a software architect in Denver makes about $141,454 USD as a base salary. 

What Does a Software Architect Do?

They create the structure that software programs are built around. They are software developers who set the standards and rules for a program, as well as make design choices that inform how the program will operate. Software architects have a lot of power when it comes to programs, since they are the ones making key policy-making decisions in how the system is developed and how it is deployed. 

Different types of software architects:

• Enterprise architects: These architects think in macro. They set the overarching strategy for IT and how it fits in with the business strategy.  
• Solution architects: These are the problem solvers. They take the business needs of the software and find solutions to help the software meet those business goals. 
• Technical architects: These are detail-oriented architects. They are in charge of all the hands-on work and details of the projects. 

How to Become a Software Architect

You will need to have a deep understanding of programming, all its languages, as well as the software environments. They must have deep knowledge of all things IT, including algorithms, design patterns, data science and all technical tools to make decisions about which works best for each project. 

Software architect takes a great deal of knowledge and training, so an advanced degree is often required. Most tech colleges have software architect programs. 

DevOps Engineer: $128,859 pa

DevOps practices are on the rise, and that means the job market for DevOps engineers is booming. These engineers make the trains run on time. They optimize the processes and manage the infrastructure of IT operations so everything from development to testing to deployment works seamlessly. A DevOps engineer makes a base salary of $128,859 USD per year, according to Indeed.

What Does a DevOps Engineer Do?

Testing and deployment. Those are the two key areas that DevOps engineers work in. They work with both developers and the IT staff to make sure everything is running smoothly for releases and deployments. It’s the bridge between development and operations, which is where DevOps comes from. DevOps come up with the systems and tools that developers and operations will use to make deployment as easy and efficient as possible. 

How to Become a DevOps Engineer

You will need to have a deep understanding of both the development process and operations. Knowledge of coding languages, IT systems and automation tools is a must. Be fluent in computer science and software engineering. Above all else, DevOps engineers need to be great at problem solving. 

Since DevOps need to be so versed in all forms of IT and development, an advanced degree is usually a requirement. Most tech colleges have DevOps programs. 

Cybersecurity Engineer: $132,519 pa

More and more cyber threats emerge everyday, making cybersecurity engineers a hot commodity and one of the most sought-after tech jobs in Denver. Cybersecurity engineers build the security around IT and software to help stave off attacks from hackers, making them invaluable to tech companies. According to Indeed, cybersecurity engineers make on average $132,519 USD a year for base salary. 

What Does a Cybersecurity Engineer Do?

Cybersecurity engineers are the police force tasked with protecting tech from cybercriminals. This doesn’t just mean setting up security measures, but also assessing risks that haven’t occurred and fixing vulnerabilities in programs before cyber attacks actually happen. They train employees on how to avoid cyber attacks and constantly monitor a business’ tech for any attacks. 

How to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer

Information security is the key skill set a cybersecurity engineer needs. They also must be well-versed in computer science and information technology as a whole. A deep understanding of security technologies is also a must, including things like encryption, firewalls, personal information management, and detection systems. 

To advance your career as a cybersecurity engineer, it’s also helpful to have experience in network infrastructure, cloud security, and various operating systems. Certifications can go a long way in advancing in the cybersecurity field, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).

Full-stack Developer: $126,010 pa

What a tech job that’s never boring? Full-stack developers need to know development for both the front-end and the back-end, giving them a variety of challenges to work on. It also makes them highly valuable and highly sought-after, giving a full-stack developer the advantage in the work marketplace. In Denver, full-stack developers make an average of $126,010 USD per year for base salary, according to Indeed. 

What Does a Full-stack Developer Do?

What doesn’t a full-stack developer do? They work on all aspects of software development. This can include server operations, design, database work, as well as front-end and back-end development. They can test and debug, and even work on UX development and design. 

How to Become a Full-stack Developer

A full-stack developer’s knowledge is deep, so you need to be good at a variety of things. Know all your front-end and back-end languages, from HTML to Ruby and Python. Get a good working knowledge of development frameworks and architectural concepts. Be a plug-and-play player, willing to switch gears at a moment’s notice to new challenges and solutions. 

You can earn your degree in full stack development at any tech university, but you can also take classes to learn front-end, back-end and other operations to expand your knowledge to become a well-rounded full-stack developer. 

Cloud Solutions Architect: $127,703 pa

Everything is moving to the cloud, and that makes cloud solutions architects one of the most in-demand tech jobs in Denver. Cloud architects deal with everything cloud-related, making it a very versatile position in the company. This versatility means more education and more demand, raising the salary base for the position. According to Indeed, a cloud solutions architect in Denver makes about $127,703 USD a year in base salary. 

What Does a Cloud Solutions Architect Do?

Basically, they oversee a business’ cloud computing strategy, whether that includes application design or cloud security. They are either building a cloud strategy for the business and setting into motion an adoption plan, or they are building the company’s cloud solutions from the ground up. 

How to Become a Cloud Solutions Architect

Having a strong background in IT doesn’t hurt, but the real need is to have a well-versed understanding of all things cloud based. Knowing the different cloud service providers is a must, the biggest being Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. 

Here are some certifications that can help a cloud architect succeed:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect
• Google Professional Cloud Architect
• Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert

Tech hubs like San Francisco and Austin are crawling with tech workers, making those markets saturated. Denver, as an up-and-coming tech hub, thirsts for tech workers, from software architects to cybersecurity engineers. With the high salaries and benefits coming from that thirst, as well as Denver’s relatively low cost of living, it makes the perfect place to advance your career in the tech sector. 

Summary Table

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Flickr user: Larry Johnson https://www.flickr.com/people/drljohnson/, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons.