Denver, Colorado—nicknamed the Mile-High City—has rapidly emerged as a thriving technology hub. The city attracts attention from startups, established companies, and investors alike. The tech sector is booming here due to a unique combination of business-friendly policies, an educated workforce, and a high quality of life that draws tech talent from across the country. With numerous tech firms setting up shop in the metro area, Denver has become a hotbed for innovation, particularly in sectors such as software development, cybersecurity, FinTech, and healthcare.
One of Denver’s significant advantages is its strategic location. Situated in the Mountain Time Zone, it serves as a convenient bridge between the East and West Coasts, facilitating collaboration and communication across time zones. Teams can connect more easily. Moreover, Denver boasts a robust talent pipeline fueled by nearby universities like the University of Colorado and the Colorado School of Mines, which produce skilled graduates in engineering, data science, and computer science year after year.
The city also nurtures a strong startup ecosystem where early-stage businesses flourish. Coworking spaces, incubators, and accelerators like Techstars and Denver Startup Week offer resources and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and early-stage companies. In recent years, several high-profile tech companies—including Palantir and Zoom—have expanded their operations or relocated to Denver, further reinforcing its reputation as a viable alternative to traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley.
Major AI-Related Industries in Denver
As a tech hub, Denver is rapidly establishing itself as a hotbed for artificial intelligence (AI). A diverse array of industries leverage AI technologies to fuel innovation and boost efficiency. The city's AI ecosystem spans healthcare, cybersecurity, marketing, and urban development, supported by a robust infrastructure and a collaborative environment.
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Healthcare Innovation: Denver-based startups like Cliexa and Frontera Health are at the forefront of integrating AI into healthcare. Cliexa enhances patient care by automating data collection and diagnostics, streamlining workflows for medical professionals. Frontera Health focuses on autism care, using AI to study interactions and speed up diagnoses, addressing the critical shortage in accessible autism services.
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Cybersecurity and Marketing: Companies like Red Canary and Matrix Marketing Group utilize AI to bolster cybersecurity measures and refine their marketing strategies. These firms show how AI is being applied to protect digital assets and personalize customer engagement.
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Urban Development and Infrastructure: Looq AI is revolutionizing urban planning by creating detailed 3D digital twins of infrastructure, helping engineers and utility providers manage cities efficiently. What’s more, a proposed AI-focused data center near Boulder, backed by the U.S. government, underscores the region's growing importance in national AI infrastructure.
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Government Initiatives: The City and County of Denver are taking the tech bull by the horns in their public works. They are actively promoting AI integration through initiatives like the DenAI Summit, the first major city-led AI conference. They’re also building important partnerships with AI vendors to streamline city operations.
Denver's commitment to AI is further evidenced by its ranking among the top 20 U.S. cities for AI-related hiring, with hundreds of job openings reported this year. This growth reflects the city's strategic investments and its emergence as a dynamic center for AI-driven industries.
Companies Hiring AI Talent in Denver
Denver is quickly becoming a magnet for AI professionals, with a growing number of companies across diverse industries hiring AI talent. From healthcare startups to cybersecurity firms and government-backed initiatives, the city’s AI job market is booming—reflecting Denver’s rise as a serious contender in the country’s tech landscape.
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Red Canary: One of the standout employers in Denver’s AI scene is Red Canary, a cybersecurity company that relies on AI to detect and respond to real-time digital threats. The company frequently seeks Data Scientists and Machine Learning Engineers to enhance its threat detection algorithms and automated systems.
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Cliexa and Frontera Health: In the healthcare space, companies like Cliexa and Frontera Health are integrating AI into patient care and diagnostics. Cliexa uses AI to streamline clinical workflows, while Frontera Health is pioneering AI tools for autism diagnosis. Both startups have a strong need for AI Engineers, Natural Language Processing Engineers, and Data Analysts to support their growth and innovation.
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Looq AI: Another notable player, Looq AI, focuses on creating 3D digital twins of cities and infrastructure using AI and computer vision. They’re hiring professionals with expertise in machine learning, computer vision, and geospatial analysis to support smart city initiatives and utility projects.
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The City and County of Denver: Even outside the private sector, the City and County of Denver is expanding its AI efforts. As previously discussed—through projects like the DenAI Summit and a recently launched request for AI vendor partnerships—the local government is currently recruiting AI consultants and technical leads to implement intelligent systems in public services.
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Denver’s Startup Ecosystem: Fueled by incubators like Techstars, Denver continues to produce AI-focused companies eager to hire new talent. With a rising number of AI-related job postings, Denver is not only embracing AI innovation but also hiring for it at scale, offering exciting opportunities for professionals across the AI spectrum.
Denver AI Roles and Average Salaries
Denver’s AI job market is quickly expanding. Companies across industries are seeking skilled professionals to fill a wide variety of roles. The demand for AI talent is high, driven by sectors such as healthcare, cybersecurity, urban planning, and tech startups.
Here’s an overview of some common AI roles in Denver, along with their average salaries and brief job descriptions:
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Machine Learning (ML) Engineer: Machine Learning Engineers design and implement algorithms that enable systems to learn from data. In Denver, these professionals work in areas like cybersecurity and healthcare, where they focus on building predictive models and automating processes. Their responsibilities include data preprocessing, feature engineering, and model evaluation. In Denver, Machine Learning Engineers command salaries ranging between $105,000 and $130,000 per year.
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Data Scientist: Data Scientists analyze complex data to uncover insights and build AI models. They use statistical techniques and machine learning tools to interpret big datasets, often working in healthcare, FinTech, or smart city projects. Their key tasks include data collection, cleaning, and creating visualizations for decision-making. The average yearly salary for a Data Scientist in Denver ranges from $95,000 to $120,000.
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AI/ML Research Scientist: AI/ML Research Scientists focus on advancing AI’s theoretical foundations. In Denver, these roles are often found in research-heavy organizations like universities or AI-focused companies. Their work involves designing new algorithms, conducting experiments, and publishing findings to push the boundaries of AI technology. Average salaries for AI/ML Research Scientists in Denver range between $110,000 and $145,000 per year.
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AI Product Manager: AI Product Managers in Denver spend their days overseeing the development and execution of AI-powered products. They collaborate with technical teams and stakeholders, ensuring AI solutions align with business goals. They handle product strategy and roadmap development and coordinate between engineering, marketing, and sales teams. AI Product Managers in Denver earn an average annual salary ranging between $115,000 and $140,000.
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Computer Vision Engineer: Computer Vision Engineers develop systems that allow machines to interpret and process visual information. In Denver, these professionals are often involved in smart city projects or autonomous vehicles. Their duties include developing algorithms for object detection, image recognition, and real-time video analysis. Computer Vision Engineers in Denver can earn anywhere between $100,000 and $125,000 per year.
As Denver’s AI ecosystem continues to grow, these roles offer competitive salaries and exciting opportunities to be at the forefront of innovation.