AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist.
Denver.
$211,000
median salary, 8% above the national average
$157,000 to $275,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Here is what AI Security & Red Teaming Specialists actually make in Denver: $157,000 at the 25th percentile, $211,000 at the median, and $275,000 at the 75th. That is 8% 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
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How Denver compares
Denver, CO
$211,000
Cost of living: 8% above average
National Average
$195,000
Denver is $16,000 above
What you should know
Before you negotiate a AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist 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. Expertise in adversarial testing of AI systems including prompt injection, jailbreaking, data poisoning, and model extraction drives top pay. Specialists who can identify novel attack vectors and build automated red teaming frameworks are rare. Government security clearances and experience with defense or intelligence sector AI systems add substantial compensation premiums.
Junior AI security testers start at $120,000 to $150,000. Mid level red team specialists earn $170,000 to $215,000. Senior specialists reach $215,000 to $275,000. Heads of AI security at frontier labs or defense contractors can exceed $380,000 in total compensation. 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 15 to 30% are standard at AI labs and security firms. Equity grants add 20 to 35% of total compensation. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $70,000 are common. Benefits frequently include security conference attendance, bug bounty participation, and research publication support. 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 $211,000, 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 Security & Red Teaming Specialists in Denver runs from $157,000 to $275,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Denver
Negotiating in Denver
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.