Salario de Veterinario en Colorado (2026)
El salario promedio de un Veterinario en Colorado es de $128,000/año. Después de impuestos, tu sueldo neto estimado es de $93,830/año ($7,819/mes).
Desglose del Sueldo Neto
| Categoría | Cantidad |
|---|---|
Sueldo Neto Anual | $93,830 |
Sueldo Neto Mensual | $7,819 |
Sueldo Neto Quincenal | $3,609 |
Sueldo Neto por Hora basado en 2,080 hrs/año | $45/hr |
Impuesto Federal | $19,454 |
Impuesto Estatal | $4,924 |
Impuestos FICA | $9,792 |
Tasa Efectiva de Impuesto impuestos totales ÷ salario bruto | 26.69% |
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Rangos de Salario de Veterinario en Colorado
No todas las Veterinarios ganan lo mismo — ni de cerca
CO veterinary medicine splits across small-animal private practice (general + specialty across Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village / Castle Rock / Boulder / Fort Collins / Colorado Springs), specialty + ER referral (VCA AlpenGlow Veterinary Specialty + Emergency Center, BluePearl Highlands Ranch, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, plus Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital), academic at CSU College of Veterinary Medicine + Biomedical Sciences (Fort Collins), federal-research at USDA APHIS Fort Collins + CDC NCEZID Fort Collins + ARS National Wildlife Research Center (Fort Collins), equine medicine (Wellington horse country, Steamboat Springs, Aspen-area, plus Aiken-of-the-West Sun Belt counterweight), plus mountain-town small-animal + wildlife rehab (Vail Health Veterinary, Aspen Animal Hospital, Steamboat Veterinary Hospital). CSU CVM is the only CO vet school and one of the top-5 US programs.
Small-Animal Associate (general practice)
$128,000-$165,000
2-7 yr post-DVM · private practice associate · Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village / Castle Rock / Boulder
Small-Animal Owner-Operator
$245,000-$385,000
Post-buyout 5+ yr · multi-doctor practice · K-1 + W-2 split · CO 4.40% flat
Specialty (Surgery / IM / Cardio / Neuro)
$185,000-$295,000
Residency + ACVS / ACVIM / ACVN board cert · CSU CVM-affiliated + VCA AlpenGlow / BluePearl
ER / Critical Care Veterinarian
$165,000-$255,000
BluePearl Highlands Ranch + VCA AlpenGlow + CSU VTH · ABVP-ECC cert · shift premium
Equine Veterinarian (Wellington / Steamboat)
$118,000-$215,000
Wellington horse country + Aspen-area + Steamboat · racing + sport horse + ranch · seasonal premium
CSU College of Veterinary Medicine Faculty
$135,000-$235,000
Fort Collins · academic-research + clinical · top-5 US vet program · CSU PERA pension
Federal Research Vet (USDA APHIS / CDC / ARS Fort Collins)
$135,000-$195,000
GS-13/14 + Fort Collins locality · USDA APHIS NWRC + CDC NCEZID + ARS · pension + PSLF
Veterinary Pathologist (board-certified)
$185,000-$295,000
ACVP cert · diagnostic lab + biotech industry · CSU VTH partnership
Vale la pena saber: Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (CSU CVM, Fort Collins) is one of the top-5 US vet schools by research funding and clinical residency match competitiveness. CSU CVM operates the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (one of the largest US veterinary teaching hospitals) and uniquely operates substantial wildlife / zoo / exotic animal specialty programs. Wellington (CO, Greeley-area) is among the top US equine medicine markets — Wellington horse country has dense thoroughbred + sport horse + ranch operations driving substantial equine vet demand. Federal veterinary density in CO is uniquely high: USDA APHIS National Wildlife Research Center (Fort Collins, ~700 employees) + CDC NCEZID Fort Collins (zoonotic disease research) + ARS Animal Disease Research Unit (Fort Collins). VCA AlpenGlow Veterinary Specialty + Emergency Center (Wheat Ridge) + BluePearl Highlands Ranch anchor the Front Range specialty + ER referral market. Mountain-town small-animal practices (Vail, Aspen, Steamboat) operate at premium with second-home + ski-tourism client base + premium fee schedules. Colorado Veterinary Medical Board licensure required.
Colorado veterinary medicine — CSU CVM pipeline, federal-research density, Wellington equine + mountain-town premium
4.40%
CO flat state · no local · 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance
CSU CVM
Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine · top-5 US vet program · only CO vet school
$135-195K
Federal research vet (USDA APHIS / CDC NCEZID / ARS Fort Collins) · GS-13/14 + locality
$185-295K
Specialty board-certified · ACVS / ACVIM / ACVN / ACVP · CSU VTH-affiliated
Veterinary medicine is -exempt under the professional exemption. Associates are typically (private practice) or (partner / S-corp owner). ER veterinarians work shift-based schedules with shift differentials but typically aren't OT-classified. OBBBA's overtime deduction does not apply to standard veterinarian comp. The CO market drivers: CSU CVM pipeline (top-5 US program) + Veterinary Teaching Hospital + Wellington equine + federal-research density (USDA APHIS + CDC + ARS Fort Collins), specialty + ER referral premium (VCA AlpenGlow + BluePearl), small-animal Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village fee premium, Front Range outdoor lifestyle.
CO's flat 4.40% rate makes the active-duty math simple. For a Cherry Creek-area small-animal associate at $158K (no city earnings tax statewide): CO = 4.40% × $158K = $6,950/year. Same comp in MD: $13,200/year combined. CO saves $6,250/year vs MD. Compared to AZ (2.5% flat): AZ $3,950. AZ saves $3,000/year vs CO. Compared to TN (0%): TN saves $6,950/year. Federal-research veterinarians at USDA APHIS Fort Collins + CDC NCEZID + ARS at GS-13 step-7 = $123K + ~17.4% Denver/Fort Collins locality = $144K + FERS pension + .
Real numbers for a Wellington equine veterinarian at $158K (mostly seasonal April-November high-volume): CO 4.40% × $158K = $6,950/year. Same comp in TN (0%): TN saves $6,950/year on state but TN equine market is Williamson County-anchored and smaller scale than Wellington horse country. The CO equine market is uniquely deep — Wellington-area + Aspen-area + Steamboat + Pikes Peak ranch country produce substantial year-round + seasonal equine practice volume. Plus CSU CVM faculty + Veterinary Teaching Hospital provide academic-research career arc + state PERA pension + 0% estate retirement structure unavailable in low-tax states without flagship vet schools.
Colorado for veterinarians — the honest take
CO veterinary medicine clusters in three corridors. The Denver metro corridor (Cherry Creek + Greenwood Village + Castle Rock + Parker + Highlands Ranch + Aurora outer + Westminster + Lakewood, plus VCA AlpenGlow Wheat Ridge + BluePearl Highlands Ranch specialty + ER referral) concentrates the highest-fee small-animal practices in the state — high-net-worth patient base + dense pet-insurance / private-pay mix. The Fort Collins / Boulder corridor (CSU CVM + Veterinary Teaching Hospital + USDA APHIS + CDC NCEZID + ARS federal research, plus small-animal practice market) anchors north Front Range. The Wellington equine corridor (Greeley-area horse country) + Aspen + Steamboat equine markets anchor specialty equine practice. Plus mountain-town small-animal (Vail, Aspen, Steamboat, Telluride) at premium fee schedules with ski-tourism + second-home client base.
Practice ownership math: Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village small-animal practice $1.5M-$2.4M acquisition, $850K-$1.2M annual collections, $385-485K seller's discretionary earnings post-debt. Boulder / Fort Collins $1.0M-$1.5M acquisition, $650-900K collections, $285-385K SDE. Castle Rock / Parker $1.0M-$1.4M acquisition, $625-875K collections, $275-365K SDE. Mountain-town premium acquisition ($800K-$1.3M Vail / Aspen / Steamboat) supports premium fee schedules with second-home + ski-tourism client base. Wellington equine practice at $375-625K SDE for established practice with strong sport-horse client base.
Most senior CO vets retire in-state — CO's 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% on retirement income + low 0.55% property tax + Front Range outdoor lifestyle (skiing, hiking, climbing) makes CO among the more favorable Western US vet retirement structures. CSU CVM faculty often retire in Fort Collins / Loveland / Greeley with state PERA pension + 0% CO estate exposure on retirement assets. Common in-state retirement patterns: stay in Denver suburbs / Boulder / Fort Collins, or migrate to mountain-town downvalley (Glenwood Springs, Steamboat-area) for outdoor lifestyle. Pre-distribution relocation to FL / NV is rare for CO vets given favorable CO retirement structure.
How Colorado taxes work for veterinarians (and where the levers are)
CO charges flat 4.40% state income tax (since 2022). No local income tax statewide. For a Cherry Creek-area associate at $158K: CO = $6,950/year. Same comp in MD: $13,200/year combined. CO saves $6,250/year vs MD. Compared to AZ (2.5%): AZ $3,950. AZ saves $3,000/year vs CO. Compared to TN (0%): TN saves $6,950/year. The flat 4.40% applies to all comp tiers — no surtax above any threshold (unlike MA's 4% Fair Share above $1M).
maxing is the central active-duty move. Most CO private veterinary practices offer 401(k) at $24,500/year + 3-4% match. Corporate-vet (Banfield / VCA AlpenGlow / BluePearl) offer 401(k) + + at varying levels. CSU CVM faculty have access to PERA defined-benefit pension + 401(k) supplemental. At $158K associate + 24% federal + 4.40% CO marginal, maxing $24,500 saves $6,960/year combined federal + state.
Federal-research vet track at USDA APHIS / CDC NCEZID / ARS Fort Collins adds the GS pay + Denver/Fort Collins locality + FERS pension + stack. At GS-13 step-7 = $123K + ~17.4% locality = $144K + FERS pension. PSLF for federal vets with $200-300K DVM federal balance — 10 years tax-free forgiveness. Federal track is uniquely accessible in CO given USDA APHIS NWRC + CDC NCEZID + ARS Fort Collins density. Saves $100-250K in lifetime DVM debt vs the typical 25-year self-pay.
Practice-owner retirement plan stacking is the dominant CO lever for owners. Solo at $24,500 employee + $47,500 employer profit-share = $72,000/year at the §415(c) cap. Cash-balance plan adds another $150K-300K/year of pre-tax shelter for owners 50+ in peak earning years. Defined-benefit + 401(k) combo for owners 55-65 can shelter $300K-450K/year pre-tax — saves $90K-130K/year combined federal + 4.40% CO at top combined marginal. Lower than MD's combined 8.95% and similar to AZ's 2.5% flat (lower than CO).
- →Federal-research vet track at USDA APHIS NWRC + CDC NCEZID + ARS Fort Collins · GS-13/14 + ~17.4% locality + FERS pension + · $135-195K total · uniquely available in CO
- → on $200-300K DVM federal balance: 10 years at federal vet position = tax-free forgiveness · $100-250K lifetime savings
- →Practice-owner solo + cash-balance plan: $200-400K/year pre-tax shelter at $400K+ practice income
- →CO 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance · favorable retirement vs MA $2M / MD $5M cliff at senior vet asset tier
- →Pursue specialty residency (ACVS / ACVIM / ACVN / ABVP-ECC): $185-295K specialty comp tier vs $128-165K general associate
- →Wellington equine specialty + CSU CVM equine surgery + sport horse market: $215-395K + seasonal premium
- →Mountain-town small-animal practice (Vail / Aspen / Steamboat / Telluride): premium fee schedules with second-home + ski-tourism client base
- → at corporate-vet (Banfield / VCA AlpenGlow / BluePearl) if plan supports after-tax + in-plan-Roth conversion · $47.5K/year
The Colorado veterinarian career arc — DVM entry to specialty / ownership
Years 0-3 (post-DVM, associate): $115-145K. DVM (4-year doctorate post-undergrad) + NAVLE national exam + Colorado Veterinary Medical Board licensure. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CSU CVM, Fort Collins, top-5 US program) graduates dominate the in-state pipeline; UC Davis / Cornell / Penn / NC State / Texas A&M also feed CO market. Decision point: small-animal private practice ($115-145K starting) vs corporate-vet (Banfield / VCA AlpenGlow / BluePearl, $125-155K starting + sign-on) vs ER / specialty residency (residency stipend $50-65K, then specialty comp $185-295K post-residency) vs federal-research (USDA APHIS / CDC / ARS Fort Collins GS-12 entry, $95-118K + locality + + FERS pension) vs CSU CVM faculty residency.
Years 3-10 (associate / specialty / federal track): $128-235K depending on lane. General associate at established practice $128-165K + production bonus. Specialty post-residency reaches $185-295K. ER critical care $165-255K. Federal GS-13 reaches $123K + ~17.4% locality = $144K. CSU CVM faculty $135-235K + state PERA pension. Wellington equine practice senior associate $118-185K. Maxing + (if corporate-vet) is the active-duty stack. accumulating at federal track from year 1.
Years 10+ (senior associate / partner / owner / federal senior / retirement): $185-485K depending on track. Senior associate $185-265K. Partner / owner-operator $245-385K depending on practice scale. Specialty board-certified diplomate reaches $245-395K. Federal GS-14 step-10 = $145K + locality + FERS pension. CSU CVM tenured faculty $185-285K + PERA pension. Most CO vets retire in-state — favorable 0% estate + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% retirement structure with Front Range outdoor lifestyle.
Where Colorado veterinarians actually live
CO vet housing tracks practice + commute. Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village small-animal practice owners live in Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village / Highlands Ranch / Castle Rock ($625K-$1.5M premium tier; $475-700K mid-tier). Boulder small-animal vets in Boulder outer (Lafayette, Louisville). Fort Collins (CSU + USDA APHIS + CDC + ARS) vets in Larimer County. Wellington equine vets in Weld County (Greeley-area). Mountain-town vets in downvalley communities or premium tier (Vail, Aspen).
Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village (Arapahoe)
$625K-$1.5M · 4.40% flat state · top fee schedules · small-animal premium
Castle Rock / Parker (Douglas County)
$475-700K · 4.40% flat state · top US schools · suburban small-animal practice
Fort Collins (Larimer County)
$475-700K · 4.40% flat state · CSU CVM + USDA APHIS + CDC + ARS federal research
Boulder outer (Lafayette / Louisville)
$525-800K · 4.40% flat state · Boulder small-animal practice + research-medicine
Wellington / Greeley (Weld County)
$425-625K · 4.40% flat state · Wellington horse country equine + ranch practice
CO's CSU College of Veterinary Medicine pipeline (top-5 US program) + USDA APHIS + CDC NCEZID + ARS Fort Collins federal-research density + Wellington equine + mountain-town small-animal premium + 0% estate retirement structure (since 2005) + Front Range outdoor lifestyle make CO uniquely the Mountain West's most favorable veterinary market — combining flagship vet school + dense federal-research career path + equine + small-animal markets all in one state.
¿Es la decisión correcta?
Colorado veterinary medicine — who it's best for
A tu favor
- +CSU College of Veterinary Medicine (Fort Collins): top-5 US vet program · only CO vet school · faculty + Veterinary Teaching Hospital roles · CSU PERA pension
- +Federal-research vet density: USDA APHIS NWRC + CDC NCEZID + ARS Fort Collins · GS-13/14 + ~17.4% locality + FERS pension + PSLF · uniquely CO
- +Wellington equine market + Aspen / Steamboat equine: among top US equine medicine markets · year-round + seasonal practice volume
- +Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village small-animal premium-fee practices · top Mountain West dental fee schedules
- +CO 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% retirement state + Front Range outdoor lifestyle
Vale la pena saber antes de firmar
- −CO 4.40% state higher than AZ (2.5%) at vet comp tier · $3,000/year more than AZ at $158K
- −CSU CVM is the only CO vet school · DVM applicants face concentrated CO-state-university admission cycle
- −Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village home tier $625K-$1.5M+ · associate base+production bonus rarely supports without spouse-stack
- −Mountain-town housing extreme premium ($750K-$5M+) · most mountain-town vets in downvalley communities
- −DVM $200-300K federal balance load · PSLF eligibility critical for non-federal-track vets
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