Famously nicknamed the Mile High City, Denver, Colorado, (altitude: 1 mile, or 5,280 feet above sea level) is a major destination for those seeking a better quality of life. A city with lots to offer lovers of nature as well as those seeking great job opportunities, Denver might just be the high point in your job search as a nursing professional.
Named for the former Territorial Governor of Kansas, James Denver, the capital of Colorado has wonderful views of Rocky Mountains, even from its capitol building. If you are looking for a breath of fresh air, why not start your job search with nursing jobs in Denver, Colorado? Learn what this city has to offer nurses on and off the job.
3 Facts About Nursing Jobs in Denver, Colorado
- Is Colorado a compact state? Yes.
- What’s the average RN salary in Denver? The average salary for nursing jobs in Denver is $87,790 per year, compared to the national average RN salary of $89,010.
- Where can I find information about becoming a licensed RN in Colorado? Check the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website’s Nursing page to get to the most up-to-date information on being a licensed nurse in the state.
What to Know About Nursing Jobs in Denver, Colorado
The seat of Denver County, Denver is not only the capital of Colorado, but also its largest city. With 699,288 residents, the Mile High City is the most populous city within a 500-mile radius. This puts the Denver metro area in a great position to support lots of local jobs for RNs, CNAs, and LPNs. Nurses have the option to look for full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, travel, and per diem nursing jobs in Denver, Colorado.
Whom might you be caring for if you decided to look for nursing jobs in Denver? You’ll find the population has a median age of 37 years old, just under the national median of 37.7 years old, and about 14% of residents are 60 to 74 years old.
The additional demographics for Denver might not be what you would expect. The city has more men than women, with women making up just over 49% of the city’s population. Denver has a fairly large Hispanic/Latino community (29%), while African American/Black residents make up 9% of the population, and Asians make up just under 4%.
The most common languages spoken in Denver in addition to English include Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Somali, and Amharic. If you want to highlight any of your language skills to prospective employers during your interviews for nursing jobs in Denver, or discuss your cultural competence in nursing, it may help you stand out from other prospective applicants.
You might need some additional childcare if you are working extra shifts in your Denver nursing job. If you need help identifying afterschool or preschool care options, the Colorado Shines website focuses on helping families navigate their options for childcare. What if the care you need for your family members is for your beloved dog or cat? There are lots of options for you to choose from if you need care for your four-legged kids, too.
Working in Denver
It takes Denverites a little time to get to work, but not as long as it takes many other urban workers. Denver’s one-way commute averages 25.3 minutes, which is not short, but better than the national average of 26.4 minutes. Most locals drive in their car alone to work (about 70%) and about 7% take mass transit. Only about 2% bike to work and about 4% walk, which might be due to the challenge of exercise at altitude right before work.
Even if the commute is a little on the longer side, there are going to be plenty of healthcare job options to look for, and some might be closer to home. Denver is the center of a wealth of industries based on technology and scientific advances, including aerospace, bioscience, digital communications, software, and healthcare and wellness. Denver also has strong energy and food and beverage sectors. This diversity of science-based industries may allow nurses to find work in many different settings beyond the bedside.
However, if you are interested in a more traditional acute-care setting for your Denver nursing job, you’ll find many top-ranked hospitals in the wider metro area. According to U.S. News and World Report, the top hospitals in Denver include:
- UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
- SCL Health St. Joseph Hospital
- Littleton Adventist Hospital
- Rose Medical Center
- Sky Ridge Medical Center
If you’re more interested in post-acute care, you have options there as well, especially since Denver has been ranked as one of the top places to retire in the country. There are 96 nursing homes in the Denver metro area to choose from, including 14 with a 5 out of 5 rating from U.S. News.
Living in Denver
If you think Denver is a city dedicated to outdoor living, you’d be right. Colorado is often ranked as one of the top 10 healthiest states, and its biggest city reflects that. If your idea of healthy living includes 850 miles of paved trails, 5,000 acres of parks and parkways, and 300 days of sunshine per year, then Denver is your city. The world-famous Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is an added bonus to many outdoor activities, from hiking to concerts and more.
Or maybe you’d rather watch someone else get all that exercise? Denver has teams playing in all four major sports, so no matter if you are a Broncos fan, prefer the Denver Rockies, the Avalanche, or the Nuggets, you can see professional football, baseball, hockey, and basketball year-round.
If a city walk with a stop for a drink or a meal is more your style of outdoor living, Denver has you covered there as well. Colorado is home to many great beer brands, Coors being the most recognizable, but maybe the Denver omelette, the Denver sandwich, or the Colorado green chile might interest you more. The food scene in Denver goes far beyond beer. Local favorites include street tacos, bison steak, and even an iconic elk jalapeno cheddar dog. You can celebrated food and drink at some of the city’s big food festivals including the Denver Food and Wine Festival, the Taste of Colorado, and the Cherry Blossom Festival, to name only a few.
Once you’ve had a great meal, the next thing you might want to do on a day off is check out the arts and culture scene. Denver has several world-class museums including the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and an intriguing import from Santa Fe called Meow Wolf. Musical entertainment can be found at large venues like the Ball Arena in LoDo (Lower Downtown), the Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall, or the dazzling Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Not only are there lots of sunny days to soak up the outdoor music, art, food, and sports, but the arid conditions in the area keep the rainfall in Denver to about 8 inches to 15 inches per year. Even the winters are milder than you might guess, with the average daily high temperature of 45 degrees, and the summer temperatures in August, for example, averaging 86 degrees.
Given the lovely weather, food, fun, and groundbreaking industries, it’s not a surprise that the cost of living in Denver is about 11% over the national average. Some elements like housing — 36% higher than the national average — are quite a bit more expensive, but some things are more affordable, such as utilities (13% less) and groceries (averaging 6% less).
Find Great Nursing Jobs in Denver, Colorado, With IntelyCare
Ready for a new CNA, LPN, or RN job in Denver? IntelyCare can help you push your career to new heights. Begin your IntelyCare application today and find your next adventure in Denver or anywhere you like.