Provide medical care for exotic and wild animals in zoos and wildlife facilities. Median salary in Denver: $114K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Denver, Colorado. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Zoo Veterinarians in Denver earn approximately 12% higher than the US national median for this role — a $12,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Denver's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.
Adjusted for Denver's cost-of-living index (118), the median Zoo Veterinarian salary buys the equivalent of $96,610 in a US-average-cost city. That's $5,390 less purchasing power than the national median — the higher nominal salary doesn't fully offset local costs.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Denver ($1,800/mo) consumes approximately 29% of an after-tax median Zoo Veterinarian salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($155K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $114K by 2030.
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The median Zoo Veterinarian salary in Denver, CO is $114,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Denver–CO metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Zoo Veterinarians in Denver with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $84,000 and $114,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $114,000 to $155,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $155,000 to $204,000 or more.
Denver has a cost of living index of 118 compared to the US national average of 100. Denver's cost of living is above the US average, so the salary figures above reflect local market rates. Colorado has a 4.55% state income tax rate.
DVM + zoo medicine residency; exotic animal experience. 0% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.