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  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist/
  4. Boulder

LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist.

Boulder.

$194,000

median salary, 18% above the national average

$151,000 to $252,000. Last updated April 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Here is what LLM Fine-Tuning Specialists actually make in Boulder: $151,000 at the 25th percentile, $194,000 at the median, and $252,000 at the 75th. That is 18% above the national average. Boulder is one of America's most concentrated startup hubs per capita, with a strong presence in aerospace, natural products, and technology. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$151,000

per year

Median

$194,000

per year

75th Percentile

$252,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$151,000$252,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $175,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$126,000

to $155,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$165,000

to $204,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$213,000

to $252,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$243,000

to $301,000

Salary trend

+8% YoY
$143,000
2022
$154,000
2023
$166,000
2024
$180,000
2025
$194,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $83,000 to the total package.

Base

$194,000

Equity

$50,000

Bonus

$21,000

Signing

$12,000

Estimated total: $277,000

How Boulder compares

Boulder, CO

$194,000

Cost of living: 15% above average

National Average

$165,000

Boulder is $29,000 above

LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist salary by city

LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$235,000$183,000 – $306,0001.38x$170,000
San Francisco, CA$227,000$178,000 – $296,0001.35x$168,000
New York, NY$220,000$172,000 – $286,0001.28x$172,000
Washington DC, DC$215,000$168,000 – $280,0001.25x$172,000
Honolulu, HI$212,000$166,000 – $277,0001.30x$163,000
Seattle, WA$211,000$165,000 – $275,0001.24x$170,000
Jersey City, NJ$204,000$159,000 – $266,0001.20x$170,000
Los Angeles, CA$201,000$157,000 – $261,0001.18x$170,000
San Diego, CA$201,000$157,000 – $262,0001.17x$172,000
Boulder, CO$194,000$151,000 – $252,0001.15x$169,000

See all 81 cities for LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist →

Salary by role in Boulder

Salary comparison by role in Boulder
RoleMedianRange
Principal Quantitative Researcher$407,000$317,000 – $528,000
Principal AI Research Scientist$398,000$311,000 – $518,000
Senior VP of Security$398,000$311,000 – $518,000
LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist$194,000$151,000 – $252,000
AI/GenAI Sales Engineer$194,000$141,000 – $258,000
AI Observability Engineer$194,000$147,000 – $256,000
AI Legal Tech Specialist$194,000$147,000 – $256,000
AI Simulation Engineer$194,000$147,000 – $254,000

What you should know

Boulder is one of America's most concentrated startup hubs per capita, with a strong presence in aerospace, natural products, and technology. The University of Colorado and national labs like NIST and NOAA drive research employment. Outdoor lifestyle attracts top talent willing to accept slightly lower salaries. That is the backdrop for every LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist offer you will see here.

One thing people overlook: taxes. Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Boulder has no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with high quality of life makes it competitive despite higher housing costs. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.

On negotiation: Reference the startup density. Boulder employers compete fiercely for talent and often offer equity packages that rival larger metros. Negotiate total compensation, not just base. The range for LLM Fine-Tuning Specialists in Boulder runs from $151,000 to $252,000. 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

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist offer to see where you stand in Boulder.

$

25th

$151,000

Median

$194,000

75th

$252,000

Considering a related role?

  • A AI DevOps Engineer in Boulder earns $193,000 (1% less)
  • The highest-paying role in Boulder is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $407,000

Common questions.

The national median for a LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist is $168,696. In Boulder, cost of living adjustments push the median to $194,000. That premium reflects Boulder's higher housing, transportation, and everyday costs.

Boulder is one of America's most concentrated startup hubs per capita, with a strong presence in aerospace, natural products, and technology. The University of Colorado and national labs like NIST and NOAA drive research employment. For LLM Fine-Tuning Specialists specifically, the breadth of hiring across sectors signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $151,000 to $252,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Boulder has no additional city income tax. The moderate rate combined with high quality of life makes it competitive despite higher housing costs. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist hiring in Boulder typically involves three to five rounds: a recruiter screen, a technical or skills assessment, one or two team interviews, and a final conversation with leadership. Companies in Boulder's Technology & Startups sector may add domain specific evaluations. The process usually takes two to four weeks. Prepare by researching the company and practicing with Orbyt's Interview Prep tool.

It depends on the position and employer. Many LLM Fine-Tuning Specialists in Boulder are classified as exempt salaried employees without overtime eligibility. However, performance bonuses of 10 to 20% are common. When evaluating the $151,000 to $252,000 range, ask about the total compensation structure during negotiation.

Boulder's cost of living multiplier is 1.15x the national average. The adjusted median LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist salary of $194,000 accounts for this. In practice, a LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist earning $194,000 in Boulder has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $168,696 in an average cost market.

LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist salary in other cities

Indianapolis$147,000
Jackson$130,000
Jersey City$204,000
Kansas City$153,000
Knoxville$144,000
Los Angeles$201,000

Other salaries in Boulder

Machine Learning Engineer$173,000
ML Engineer$204,000
Machine Learning Researcher$210,000
ML Pipeline Engineer$197,000

Related

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"LLM Fine-Tuning Specialist Salary in Boulder, CO." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/llm-fine-tuning-specialist/boulder

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