Data Analyst in Colorado Springs, CO

The Salary Picture: Where Colorado Springs Stands

As a local, I’ve watched the data analytics scene in Colorado Springs evolve from a niche field to a core component of our city’s economy. The shift is tied to our unique blend of defense, tech, and healthcare, creating a steady demand for professionals who can make sense of data. The numbers tell a compelling story, and for a Data Analyst, understanding this landscape is the first step toward a strategic career move.

Let's start with the hard numbers. The median salary for a Data Analyst in Colorado Springs is $82,709/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.76/hour. This figure sits just below the national average of $83,360/year, a common pattern for mid-sized metro areas that offer a significantly lower cost of living. The real story, however, is the job market's velocity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and local market analyses, there are approximately 977 Data Analyst jobs in the metro area, and the 10-year job growth projection is a robust 36%. This growth outpaces many other sectors and indicates a sustained, long-term demand.

To understand where you might fit, let’s break down salaries by experience level. While the median provides a good benchmark, your actual earnings will depend heavily on your specific skills, industry, and the complexity of the problems you’re solving.

Experience Level	Typical Salary Range (Annual)	Key Responsibilities & Local Context
Entry-Level	$60,000 - $72,000	SQL/Excel proficiency, basic reporting, dashboard support. Often starts at smaller firms, healthcare admin, or entry-level roles in larger defense contractors.
Mid-Level	$75,000 - $95,000	Advanced SQL, Python/R for analysis, statistical modeling, independent project ownership. Common in tech startups, established healthcare systems, and project-based defense roles.
Senior	$95,000 - $120,000+	Leading analytics projects, mentoring juniors, complex data pipelines, stakeholder management. Found in lead roles at major employers (e.g., Lockheed Martin, UCHealth), specialized consulting, or tech lead positions.
Expert/Principal	$120,000 - $150,000+	Strategic analytics, departmental leadership, advanced ML/AI implementation, cross-functional influence. Typically at principal scientist levels in defense, director-level in healthcare IT, or founding data roles in scaling startups.

Insider Tip: The "Expert" tier in Colorado Springs is less about generic analytics and more about domain specialization. A Senior Data Analyst with a security clearance and experience in aerospace telemetry is worth exponentially more here than a generalist.

Comparison to Other Colorado Cities

Colorado Springs offers a distinct value proposition compared to the state's other major hubs.

• Denver Metro: Salaries are typically 10-15% higher (median ~$92,000), but the cost of living—especially housing—is dramatically higher. The commute is also more congested. You trade a higher paycheck for a larger financial burden.
• Boulder: Similar to Denver in salary premium but with an even higher cost of living, heavily skewed by the tech and academic sectors. It's a smaller, more concentrated market.
• Fort Collins: A strong university and tech presence, but salaries are often closer to Colorado Springs with a slightly lower cost of living. The market is smaller and more focused on ag-tech and manufacturing.

The Springs' Advantage: You get a salary that, while slightly below the national average, buys you a significantly better quality of life in terms of housing affordability, traffic, and access to outdoor recreation. The 36% growth rate suggests this gap may narrow as the local market matures.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

The median salary of $82,709 is a gross figure. To understand your actual purchasing power in Colorado Springs, we need to run a realistic post-tax, post-rent budget. Let’s assume you're a single filer using the standard deduction for 2024.

Monthly Budget Breakdown for a Data Analyst Earning $82,709/year:

Category	Estimated Monthly Cost	Notes & Local Context
Gross Monthly Income	$6,892	($82,709 / 12)
Federal & State Taxes	~$1,380	CO has a flat income tax rate of 4.4%. This is an estimate; use a tax calculator for precision.
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)	~$527	(7.65% of gross)
Health Insurance	$350 - $500	Employer-sponsored plans vary. Military spouses may use Tricare.
Net Take-Home Pay	~$4,485	This is your "real" money for the month.
Rent (1BR Apartment)	$1,408	City-wide average. Can range from $1,200 to $1,800+ based on neighborhood.
Utilities (Electric, Gas, Internet)	$200 - $250	Varies by season; winters can be cold, summers hot.
Groceries	$350 - $450	Comparable to national averages.
Transportation	$200 - $350	Gas is typically cheaper than the national average. Car insurance is moderate. Public transit (Metro) is limited; a car is essential for most.
Health & Personal	$300	Gym, subscriptions, personal care.
Entertainment & Dining	$400	The city has a growing food scene, especially in the downtown and Old Colorado City areas.
Savings & Retirement	$1,000+	Highly recommended. The cost of living allows for strong savings if you budget wisely.
Total Estimated Expenses	~$3,908 - $4,208	Leaves a buffer of $277 - $577 monthly.

Can They Afford to Buy a Home?

This is the critical question for long-term stability. The median home price in Colorado Springs is approximately $425,000 (as of late 2023/early 2024). For a Data Analyst earning the median salary, this is a stretch but potentially doable with discipline.

• Down Payment (20%): $85,000
• Estimated Monthly Mortgage (Principal & Interest at 7% on a $340k loan): ~$2,260
• Property Taxes & Insurance: ~$500/month
• Total Housing Cost: ~$2,760/month

Analysis: At $2,760/month, housing would consume about 62% of your net take-home pay ($4,485), which is above the recommended 30% threshold. This is tight and leaves little room for other expenses or savings.

Insider Tip: Most local Data Analysts I know who own homes fall into two categories:

1. They are in a senior or expert role ($100k+).
2. They are dual-income households, making homeownership much more feasible.
3. They bought in earlier in the market or in more affordable suburbs like Security-Widefield or Fountain.

For a single individual at the median salary, renting a 1BR and aggressively saving for a down payment is the more prudent path initially. The 36% job growth and your career advancement will improve your home-buying prospects over 3-5 years.

Where the Jobs Are: Colorado Springs's Major Employers

The job market here is not a generic tech scene; it’s a specialized ecosystem. Your target employers will depend on your background and interest in obtaining a security clearance.

1. Lockheed Martin: The city's largest private employer. They have a massive presence in aerospace and defense. Data Analysts here work on everything from supply chain optimization to analyzing flight test data. Cleared roles (Confidential/Secret) are common and pay a premium. They are constantly hiring analysts to support their F-35 and space programs.

2. UCHealth and Penrose/St. Francis Hospitals: The healthcare sector is booming. Data Analysts here focus on operational efficiency, patient outcomes, population health, and billing analytics. Penrose and St. Francis (part of CommonSpirit Health) and UCHealth are the major players. This sector values experience with Epic EHR data and HIPAA-compliant analytics.

3. Northrop Grumman: Another defense giant with significant operations in the Springs. Similar to Lockheed, they need analysts for their space systems, command & control, and cybersecurity divisions. Clearance is often required.

4. Colorado Springs Utilities: As the city's utility provider, they generate massive amounts of data from smart meters, grid sensors, and customer usage. Analysts here work on load forecasting, outage prediction, and customer segmentation. This is a great stable, public-facing role.

5. City of Colorado Springs & El Paso County: Government entities are major employers. The Data Analyst role here is focused on public policy, budget analysis, traffic data, and city planning. These jobs often offer excellent benefits and work-life balance but may have a slower hiring process.

6. Tech Startups & Scale-Ups: Companies like Golioth (IoT), Ping Identity (cybersecurity), and Vivid Seats (sports/entertainment tech) have significant local offices. The startup scene is growing, driven by the presence of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a strong engineering community. These roles are less likely to require a clearance but offer equity and a fast-paced environment.

Hiring Trend: Defense and healthcare are the most consistent hirers. The tech startup scene is more volatile but offers higher growth potential. A significant trend is the "hybrid" analyst—professionals with a clearance and strong data science skills (Python, ML) are in extremely high demand.

Getting Licensed in CO

For Data Analysts, there is no state-specific license required in Colorado, unlike fields like nursing or engineering. Your credentials are your portfolio, certifications, and experience. However, there are important professional certifications and considerations.

Key Certifications (Industry Standard, Not State-Mandated):

• Google Data Analytics Certificate: A solid entry-point credential.
• Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate (Power BI): Extremely valuable, as many local employers (especially government and healthcare) use the Microsoft stack.
• Tableau Desktop Specialist: Another key visualization tool.
• AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty: For those targeting cloud-based roles.
• Security Clearance: This is not a license but a critical credential. The process is initiated by an employer and can take 6-12 months. It's a career multiplier in the Springs.

Costs & Timeline:

• Certifications: Exam costs range from $100 - $300 per test. Study materials (Udemy, Coursera, official practice tests) can add another $50 - $200.
• Timeline: You can prepare for and obtain your first foundational certification (e.g., Power BI) within 2-3 months of dedicated study. A clearance, once initiated, is entirely out of your control and depends on the employer's sponsorship and the federal background check queue.

Insider Tip: Don't wait for a license. Start building a portfolio. Local employers value a GitHub profile with clean, well-documented projects more than a generic certification. Contribute to open-source projects or analyze public datasets from the City of Colorado Springs open data portal.

Best Neighborhoods for Data Analysts

Where you live will define your daily life and commute. Here’s a local’s guide to neighborhoods, balancing lifestyle, commute to major employers, and rent.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Lifestyle	Avg. 1BR Rent	Commute to Major Employers
Downtown / Old Colorado City	Urban, walkable, historic brick buildings, diverse restaurants, breweries, and arts scene. Young professional vibe.	$1,500 - $1,800	10-20 mins to Lockheed, 15 mins to downtown offices. Easy access to I-25.
Briargate / Northgate	Modern suburb, highly rated schools, family-friendly, newer developments, close to the Air Force Academy.	$1,450 - $1,700	20-30 mins to most employers. Further from downtown but close to the northern I-25 corridor.
Manitou Springs	Quirky, touristy mountain town at the foot of Pikes Peak. Unique shops, mineral springs, hiking trails.	$1,300 - $1,600	20-35 mins to downtown Colorado Springs. A scenic but sometimes congested commute.
Southeast Colorado Springs	More affordable, diverse, with a mix of older and newer homes. Closer to the Broadmoor and Cheyenne Mountain.	$1,100 - $1,400	15-25 mins to most employers. Good access to Highway 115 and I-25.
Security-Widefield	A suburban community south of the city. Very affordable, with a strong community feel.	$1,200 - $1,450	20-30 mins to downtown. Commute to Lockheed or north side can be longer but straightforward on I-25.

My Personal Insight: For a single Data Analyst new to the city, Downtown or Old Colorado City offers the best balance of social life, networking opportunities, and manageable commute. If you prioritize budget and space, Security-Widefield is a smart choice. If you have or plan to have a family, Briargate is the top pick for schools and safety.

The Long Game: Career Growth

In Colorado Springs, career advancement for Data Analysts is less about jumping to a new title and more about deepening your expertise and expanding your influence.

• Specialty Premiums: As mentioned, a security clearance is the single biggest salary multiplier. Holding a Secret or Top Secret clearance can add $10,000 - $25,000 to your base salary. Specializing in high-demand areas like cybersecurity analytics, geospatial data analysis (tied to the military's mapping needs), or predictive maintenance for aerospace systems also commands a premium.
• Advancement Paths:
  1. Technical Track: Data Analyst → Senior Data Analyst → Data Scientist → Principal Data Scientist. This requires deepening your technical skills in machine learning, statistics, and advanced programming.
  2. Management Track: Data Analyst → Analytics Manager → Director of Analytics/Business Intelligence. This path emphasizes leadership, project management, and stakeholder communication.
  3. Domain Expert Track: Data Analyst → Business Analyst → Product Manager. This leverages your analytical skills to drive business strategy and product development, common in tech and healthcare.
• 10-Year Outlook: The 36% growth rate is your runway. Over the next decade, expect the local market to mature. The demand will shift from general reporting to advanced analytics and AI/ML implementation. Analysts who can bridge the gap between data and business strategy will be the most valuable. The local ecosystem of startups and the Air Force's focus on "software-defined" systems will create new niches.

Insider Tip: Networking is critical here. Join the Colorado Springs Data Meetup group and attend events hosted by Pikes Peak Library District or the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). The community is smaller and more tight-knit than in Denver; a good reputation travels fast.

The Verdict: Is Colorado Springs Right for You?

This isn't a decision to make lightly. Here’s a balanced look at the pros and cons specific to a Data Analyst's life here.

Pros	Cons
Strong, growing job market (36% growth, 977 jobs) in stable sectors (defense, healthcare).	Salaries are slightly below national average ($82,709 vs. $83,360).
Significantly lower cost of living vs. Denver/Boulder (Index: 97.4, Rent: $1,408).	Homeownership is a stretch on a single median salary; you may need to rent long-term.
Unparalleled outdoor access (Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, hiking, skiing).	The economy is heavily tied to federal defense spending; a government shutdown or budget cut can create uncertainty.
Clear career path with tangible credential value (security clearances, specialized domains).	The tech scene is less diverse than Denver's; fewer pure-play tech companies.
Manageable traffic and a more relaxed pace of life compared to major metros.	Public transportation is limited; car ownership is a near-necessity.

Final Recommendation:

Colorado Springs is an excellent choice for Data Analysts who value work-life balance, affordability, and a clear, specialized career path. It is ideal for:

• Early to mid-career professionals looking to build experience in high-impact industries without the financial pressure of a coastal or Denver metro.
• Outdoor enthusiasts who want career stability without sacrificing weekend access to world-class nature.
• Those willing to specialize (in clearance, healthcare, or aerospace analytics) to maximize their earning potential.

It may be less suitable for:

• Individuals seeking the highest possible salary without regard for cost of living.
• Those who thrive in a dense, dense urban environment with extensive public transit and a 24/7 nightlife.
• People unwilling to navigate the complexities of the defense industry or the clearance process.

For the right candidate, the Springs offers a rare combination: a robust, growing data profession, a vibrant community, and a