AI Construction Engineer.
Denver.
$140,000
median salary, 9% above the national average
$104,000 to $180,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what AI Construction Engineers actually make in Denver: $104,000 at the 25th percentile, $140,000 at the median, and $180,000 at the 75th. That is 9% above the national average. Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $126,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$91,000
to $112,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$119,000
to $147,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$154,000
to $182,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$175,000
to $217,000
Salary trend
+6% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $64,000 to the total package.
Base
$140,000
Equity
$39,000
Bonus
$17,000
Signing
$8,000
Estimated total: $204,000
How Denver compares
Denver, CO
$140,000
Cost of living: 8% above average
National Average
$128,000
Denver is $12,000 above
AI Construction Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Denver
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Construction Engineer offer in Denver, understand the terrain. Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. The city attracts remote workers and relocating companies seeking lower costs than the coasts. Salaries have climbed steadily as national employers open satellite offices and compete for Denver's growing talent pool. Compensation reflects the intersection of construction domain expertise and AI engineering. Engineers who can build safety monitoring systems using computer vision, project timeline prediction models, and resource optimization tools earn premiums. Experience with BIM (Building Information Modeling) integration and IoT sensor data processing adds value.
Junior AI construction engineers start at $80,000 to $100,000. Mid-level engineers building production safety monitoring systems reach $120,000 to $148,000. Senior engineers designing construction AI platforms earn $155,000 to $190,000. Directors of AI at major construction companies can reach $210,000 to $260,000. In Denver, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Bonuses of 10% to 20% tied to project efficiency improvements are common. Equity at construction tech startups adds $10,000 to $45,000 annually. Benefits include project site visit travel and continuing education budgets for both AI and construction certifications. And on the tax side: colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Denver has no additional city income tax, making the overall tax burden lighter than most coastal metros. When someone quotes you $140,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Position yourself as a remote talent anchor. Many companies pay near coastal rates for Denver based employees to save on office costs while retaining top performers. The range for AI Construction Engineers in Denver runs from $104,000 to $180,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Pharmacist in Denver earns $141,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Denver is Distinguished Engineer at $360,000
Common questions.
AI Construction Engineer salary in other cities
Other salaries in Denver
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.