.NET Developer Salary in Fort Collins: $70,000-$150,000 (2026)

Fort Collins’ cost of living index (~112) means typical tech salaries buy slightly less than the U. S.

average—housing is the biggest factor. A one-bedroom apartment near Old Town runs roughly $1,600–$1,900/month; a two-bedroom in commuter neighborhoods is commonly $1,900–$2,400.

Median single-family home prices in the area are materially above the national median, which pushes many mid-career developers toward renting or longer commutes from adjacent towns (Timnath, Windsor). Transportation costs are moderate: commute times are shorter than Denver on average, reducing fuel and time costs, but owning a car is still common.

For a mid-level . NET dev earning ~$100k, disposable income after housing and taxes will cover local lifestyle choices (dining, outdoor recreation, gym memberships) but leaves less margin for high-cost items (frequent flights, luxury housing).

Budget-conscious developers often prioritize neighborhoods nearer to core employers (South College/Prospect) to reduce commute and childcare costs.

Salaries for . NET developers in Fort Collins are driven by a mix of established engineering employers, university-driven projects, and an expanding SaaS/startup scene.

Companies like OtterBox and Woodward hire engineers for integrations, desktop and cloud services, and embedded/firmware-adjacent work where . NET skills plug into device back-ends and tooling.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. have regional engineering groups that compete for mid-senior talent, which pulls local median pay upward.

Colorado State University generates research and edtech projects requiring enterprise-grade . NET systems, adding steady demand for contract and staff developers.

Local consultancies and smaller SaaS vendors pay competitively to retain engineers who can own end-to-end systems. Broader Colorado market compensation (Denver/Boulder) elevates expectations; remote hiring expands available opportunities but also intensifies competition.

Overall, demand is high for full-stack . NET devs with Azure, SQL Server, and modern front-end skills (React/Angular) plus CI/CD experience.

Denver: Higher nominal pay (approx. $115k for .

NET roles) but a higher COL (~120). Commuting from Fort Collins to Denver is common for higher salaries but adds significant commute time (60–90 minutes each way) unless remote/hybrid arrangements are available.

Boulder: Pays more (~$120k) but COL is substantially higher (~140) — relocation to Boulder often only makes sense for senior roles or specialized positions. Colorado Springs: Lower pay (~$95k) and slightly lower COL (~102); attractive if you prioritize lower housing costs and shorter commutes locally.

Remote work: Many Denver- and Boulder-based employers are remote-friendly; Fort Collins developers can capture higher-paying roles without relocating, though employers sometimes adjust pay for local COL. Choose commuting if a specific employer or team fit outweighs the lifestyle cost; relocate if long-term career growth, networking, or salary increases exceed commute/time costs.

Typical progression in Fort Collins: entry (0–2 years) focusing on C#, ASP. NET Core, SQL Server and basic front-end frameworks; mid-level (3–7 years) owning services, APIs, mentoring juniors and influencing architecture; senior (8+ years) leading squads, driving architecture, or shifting into engineering management or principal engineer roles.

Time-to-promotion is commonly 2–4 years for each step depending on company size: startups may accelerate titles/pay if you take product responsibilities; larger firms (HPE, university projects) have more formal timelines but often provide stable pay increases and benefits. To accelerate growth locally, emphasize cloud/Azure certifications, demonstrable microservices and DevOps experience (CI/CD, containers), and cross-domain exposure (embedded integrations or data engineering).

Networking with CSU research groups, local meetups (. NET user groups), and contractor projects with defense suppliers can also open faster senior-level chances and higher pay.

When negotiating, use local comparables: ask in the $95k–$115k range for mid-level roles, $70k–$85k for entry, and $120k–$150k for senior/lead roles depending on scope. Emphasize Azure + .

NET Core + SQL Server + CI/CD experience to justify top-of-range offers. If the employer is local (OtterBox, Woodward, HPE), factor in benefits common in the area: robust PTO, flexible/hybrid schedules, tuition assistance (CSU ties), and commuter or parking perks.

Remote offers from Denver/Boulder may include higher base pay but expect potential COL-based pay adjustments; clarify whether pay is location-adjusted. Negotiate for signing bonuses, equity or profit share with startups, relocation assistance (if moving from outside Northern Colorado), and explicit career-path milestones tied to raises.

Culturally, Fort Collins employers value collaborative team fit and community involvement; demonstrating local network ties or CSU collaborations can strengthen your negotiation position.