Software Engineering Classes Denver, CO

Denver has swiftly taken the national tech scene by storm, growing exponentially over the last decade. Now, Denver stands as a national hub for software talent, and with a balanced economy and strong industries, Software Engineers have a choice of where they would like to take their careers. Not only do tech professionals move to Denver to enjoy the blend of nature and urban life, but Denver has several top universities, like the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Denver, that create highly skilled and talented tech professionals. 

Even though Denver has become a competitive job market for various tech positions, including software development, data science, and cybersecurity, new positions are always being created. Job growth in Denver for tech positions remains steady at 2%, and the unemployment rate remains below the national average. Denver offers various tech professionals a way to jump into one of the most up-and-coming tech markets while providing residents with a great quality of life. Aspiring or experienced Software Engineers should consider Denver a place to grow their career. 

Common Software Engineering Positions and Salaries in Denver

• Software Engineer
• Average Salary: $115,000-$125,000/year
• Role: Develop, design, test, and maintain software systems and applications.
• Common Skill Sets: Java, Python, JavaScript, and Agile development.
• Front-End Web Developer
• Average Salary: $90,000-110,000/year
• Role: Build Interfaces and client-side logic for web pages and applications.
• Common Skill Sets: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, TypeScript, and UX/UI basics.
• Back-End Web Developers
• Average Salary: $100,000-$125,000/year
• Role: Build the server-side logic for webpages, including APIs, databases, and system architecture to support the front-end applications.
• Common Skill Set: Python, Java, Ruby on Rails, SQL, MongoDB, and AWS.
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Average Salary:$120,000-$145,000/year
• Role: Build and design machine learning models. Works closely with Data Scientists to implement AI solutions.
• Common Skill Set: Python, TensorFlow, Pandas, AWS, and deep learning.
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Average Salary: $110,000-$140,000/year
• Role: Conduct risk assessments, vulnerability testing, and incident responses to protect software and systems from cyber threats.
• Common Skill Set: Python, network security, cloud security, encryption, and threat modeling.
• Data Scientist
• Average Salary: $120,000-$140,000/year
• Role: Gather insights from large datasets to help companies and teams make informed decisions using algorithms, machine learning, or predictive modeling.
• Common Skill Set: Python, Pandas, Tableau, R, SQL, Spark, and AWS.
• DevOps Engineer
• Average Salary: $115,000-$135,000/year
• Role: Create a bridge between software development and IT operations by setting up pipelines, infrastructure, and automation to ensure smooth and reliable releases.
• Common Skill Set: Docker, Python, AWS, and Bash. 

Top Denver Industries for Software Engineering

• Tech and Software Development: Denver has become one of the top cities for tech job growth, ranking number 8 in the North American market in CBRE's tech talent report. In the past several years, over 10,000 new tech jobs have been created, especially surrounding software engineering, which has seen a 30% job growth increase over the last decade. Software Engineers most commonly find work within this industry. They will work on anything from software development, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and analytics. Several major companies in Denver's tech scene need Software Engineers on their teams, including Ibotta, Amazon, and Guild Education. Each company allows tech professionals to explore a variety of tasks. 
• Aerospace and Defense: Colorado is home to 9 military commands, including NORAD, U.S. Space Command, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Alongside these military agencies, over 500 private aerospace companies operate out of the state. Colorado is the number 1 state for aerospace employment, with over 34,000 employees. Software Engineers in this industry often find work at leading companies like Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Sierra Space, or Raytheon Technologies. Within these companies, they focus on cybersecurity, AI development, or satellite operations. 
• Finance and FinTech: Financial institutions contribute over $40 billion to the state economy. With over 200,000 employees in this sector, the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood region ranks in the top 15 metros in the nation for finance employment. Software Engineers at Charles Schwab, FirstBank, or Robinhood focus on creating banking platforms and ensuring security. Other software positions may have professionals developing AI tools or financial analytics.
• Healthcare and HealthTech: The largest industry in Denver remains the healthcare sector. Recently, the city has experienced major growth with digital health companies, as over 400 new companies operate in this subsector. Hospitals like UCHealth and Denver Health need Software Engineers to create electronic health records (EHRs) systems and implement cybersecurity protocols. Digital health companies like Healthgrades or SCL Health focus on creating mobile interfaces, data systems, and web infrastructure for patients and hospitals. 

Denver: a Growing Tech Market

Even with a well-rounded economy with several highly ranked industries, one sector continuously dominates growth in the Denver market: Tech. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts Denver will experience a 22% surge in software development positions over the next decade. This growth surpasses the national average for this position, making Denver the prime location for these tech professionals. 

As more jobs appear in the Denver market, more companies opt for remote/hybrid work. Since Denver has more to offer than the typical city lifestyle, companies want to improve the average work/life balance and give their employees a chance to experience everything Colorado offers. This also allows employees to live outside of the Denver-Metro area, where living costs are more affordable. 

Several major companies in the aerospace and finance sectors are moving into Denver to take advantage of the large tech talent pool. As these companies move in and create a more competitive market, tech professionals are seeing salary increases. The average salary for software development positions sits around $125,000 annually; however, these positions may experience up to a 25% increase in salary over the next 5 years. Denver could easily rise to be within the top 5 markets in the coming years if the city continues to experience this amount of growth.