.NET Developer Salary in Colorado Springs: $75,000-$125,000 (2026)

Colorado Springs’ cost of living (index ~104) means a . NET developer’s salary stretches reasonably well compared with Denver but is tighter than many smaller Colorado towns.

Rent for a one-bedroom in central Colorado Springs averages roughly $1,200–$1,500/month depending on neighborhood; suburban three-bedroom homes commonly rent $1,800–$2,400. Median single-family home prices (suburban) are lower than Denver but still substantial — often $400k–$500k in popular neighborhoods.

Commute costs are moderate: most developers drive 15–30 minutes to major employer campuses (fuel and parking), while some newer tech offices and co-working locations are accessible by short commutes. Lifestyle affordability: a mid-level .

NET developer (~$92k) can cover living expenses, save modestly, and afford occasional local recreation (hiking, skiing weekends) but may need 10–15% budget discipline when aiming for home purchase in desirable school districts. If planning to buy, expect down-payment timelines similar to national averages but shorter than Denver for comparable neighborhoods.

Salaries reflect a mix of defense contracting, healthcare IT, and a growing local SaaS/consulting space. Major employers (Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris) drive demand for secure, enterprise-grade .

NET applications tied to aerospace, defense systems, and government integrations; these roles typically pay above the local average for specialized work. Healthcare providers and regional hospitals hire .

NET developers for interoperable systems, electronic health record integrations, and middleware — creating steady mid-market demand. Local startups and professional services firms hire full-stack .

NET engineers for product development and modernization projects; pay here varies but can include equity. Overall, the market is more cost-competitive than Denver—employers balance a reasonably skilled labor pool with budget constraints from government contracting cycles and regional employer size, producing a moderate demand level with occasional strong hiring pushes when contracts are awarded.

Denver: higher average . NET salary (~$105k) and a higher COL (~110).

Move or commute to Denver when you need larger tech ecosystems, higher pay (especially for senior roles), or more specialized cloud/. NET microservices roles.

Fort Collins: salaries around $100k with a COL around 108 — attractive if you value smaller-city lifestyle but still want strong university-driven talent pools. Pueblo: significantly lower COL (index ~88) and salaries (~$75k); good for lower-cost living but fewer high-tech employers.

Commute considerations: Denver commutes of 60+ minutes are common; remote/hybrid work reduces the need to relocate for many . NET roles.

If your priority is higher base pay and more varied roles, consider relocating or hybrid-commuting to Denver or Fort Collins. If cost containment is key, staying in Colorado Springs or moving to Pueblo makes sense.

Typical progression: entry (0–2 years) focusing on C#, ASP. NET Core, SQL Server, REST APIs and test coverage; mid-level (3–7 years) moving into full-stack responsibilities, ownership of services, and cloud deployments (Azure is common locally); senior (8+ years) often lead architecture, cross-team integrations, DevOps pipelines, or technical program leadership.

Timeframes can compress with targeted actions: earning Microsoft certifications (Azure Developer/Architect), delivering end-to-end projects (migration to ASP. NET Core, modern CI/CD), or demonstrating security and compliance experience for defense/healthcare clients.

In Colorado Springs, defense contract experience, security clearance eligibility, and Azure proficiency accelerate movement to senior pay bands. Transitioning into product-focused SaaS firms can also boost pay and offer equity; switching employers every 3–5 years is a common path to higher compensation in this market.

Use local comps: reference Colorado Springs mid-level average (~$92k) and Denver comparables if targeting remote work. Reasonable ranges to request: entry $60k–$75k, mid $85k–$105k, senior $105k–$130k depending on clearance and cloud skills.

Emphasize Azure, ASP. NET Core, containerization, and any government contract experience or security clearance — these justify 5–15% premiums.

Negotiate total compensation: employers often trade base pay for bonuses, flexible schedules, remote days, or additional PTO. For defense or government positions, security clearance timelines and retention bonuses are common leverage points.

If relocating within Colorado, ask for a relocation stipend, temporary housing, or a sign-on bonus sized to cover moving costs (commonly $3k–$10k locally). Be candid about commute tolerance; hybrid roles can be worth 3–8% less than fully on-site but improve quality of life.

Finally, request specific performance milestones tied to mid-year salary reviews to capture raises as projects complete.