Side-by-side · Software Engineer
Denver vs Washington
Move Value
−$2k
real, after tax + COL · per year
Career Velocity
7/10
Denver: 7/10 → lateral
10-Year Outlook
−$23k
± $86k confidence band
| Denver | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| P50 salary, role | $138k | $152k |
| State + local income tax | 3.9% | None |
| After-tax income | $99k | $114k |
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 128 | 152 |
| Median 1BR rent | $1887/mo | $2375/mo |
| Real purchasing power | $77k | $75k |
| Career Velocity (this role) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Career Velocity v1 (0–100) | 78 · Strong | 18 · Thin |
| Walkability (0–10) | 6 | 8 |
| Outdoors (0–10) | 10 | 7 |
Who should make this move
Choose Washington if…
- ·Your field's Career Velocity is at least as good in DC (7/10).
- ·Government, consulting, and biz-dev — recession-resistant by design.
Stay in Denver if…
- ·You'd lose $2k of real income annually.
- ·Your 10-year picture is $23k better if you stay.
- ·You're optimizing for what Denver uniquely offers: outdoors-first city with a credible tech and aerospace base.
A note on the numbers: Salaries are role-P50 from BLS-style bands. Tax is statutory state + local at ~$110k single. The 10-year outlook uses a 3-year promotion cadence with a small velocity adjustment, 2.5% COL inflation, and discounts to today's dollars. Full assumptions on the methodology page.