Nursing Jobs: Denver Overview
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 the Rocky Mountains. If you are looking for a breath of fresh air, why not start your search here for nursing jobs? Denver has much to offer both on and off the job. IntelyCare can show you the latest full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, and per diem positions in various healthcare settings.
3 Facts About Nursing Jobs in Denver, Colorado
- Is Colorado a compact state? Yes. Learn more about the rules and regulations in the Colorado Nurse Practice Act.
- How much do nurses make in Denver? This is a breakdown of average annual salaries in Denver by license/certification:
- NP salary in Denver: $123,320
- RN salary in Denver: $93,190
- LPN salary in Denver: $66,430
- CNA salary in Denver: $44,710
- Where can I learn more about becoming a nurse in Colorado? Check the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website’s Nursing page to get to the most up-to-date information. If your license is up for renewal soon, check out our helpful three-step guide to renew a nursing license in Colorado.
What to Know About Nursing Jobs in Denver
The seat of Denver County, Denver is not only the capital of Colorado, but also its largest city, with more than 716,500 residents. In order to provide high-quality care to all those people, the city has to fill a number of nursing jobs. Denver, Colorado, has a variety of opportunities right now, including:
- CRNA jobs in Denver, CO
- CNM jobs in Denver, CO
- Nurse practitioner jobs in Denver, CO
- RN jobs in Denver, CO
- LPN jobs in Denver, CO
- CNA jobs in Denver, CO
- Surgical tech jobs in Denver, CO
- CMA jobs in Denver, CO
- Medication aide jobs in Denver, CO
- Home health aide jobs in Denver, CO
- Caregiver jobs in Denver, CO
- Student nurse jobs in Denver, CO
Whom might you be caring for if you decided to look for nursing jobs in Denver? The population has a median age of 35, younger than the national median of 38; about 12% of residents are ages 65 and up, and 18% are under 18.
One thing to note when looking for nursing jobs: Denver is a diverse city, so you must possess cultural competence to serve this community. Approximately 63% of residents are White; 28% are Hispanic or Latino; 15.5% are two or more races; 9% are Black; and nearly 4% are Asian.
The most common languages spoken in Denver public school families include Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Somali, Nepali, Amharic, and Dari. If you want to highlight any of your language skills to prospective employers during your interviews for nursing jobs in Denver, it may help you stand out from other prospective applicants.
Working in Denver
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. The city 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, you’ll find many medical systems, ambulatory centers, and top hospitals in Denver and the wider metro area, including:
- AdventHealth (Avista Hospital)
- American Family Care Urgent Care
- Boulder Community Health
- Children's Hospital Colorado
- CommonSpirit Health
- Denver Health
- HCA HealthOne (Sky Ridge Medical Center)
- Intermountain Medical Group Denver
- Kaiser Permanente
- Platte Valley Medical Group
- SCL Health Medical Group
- UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
These facilities are certainly not your only source for nursing jobs. Denver has a number of post-acute care centers, including more than 90 nursing homes in the metro area. You could also work for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
Denver’s one-way commute averages 25 minutes. Most locals drive in their car alone to work (about 70%), 8% carpool, nearly 8% work from home, and about 7% take mass transit.
You might need some additional childcare if you are working extra shifts in your Denver nursing job. If you need help identifying after-school 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.
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 healthiest states, and its biggest city reflects that with so many outdoor adventures to be had here. 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 omelet, the Denver sandwich, or the Colorado green chile might interest you more. The food scene in Denver goes far beyond beer. Local favorites include hot dogs, bison tacos, and what's known as a Johnny burger. 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 also 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 8.5% over the national average. Some elements like home prices — 28% higher than the national average — are quite a bit more expensive, but some things are more affordable, such as utilities and gasoline.
IntelyCare Is Your Source for Great Nursing Jobs
Denver has excellent career opportunities for nurses and healthcare professionals. Need some help getting started? Find out how IntelyCare can match you with nursing jobs in your specialty area and preferred facility type.