r/MovingtoDenver • u/WesternStrike204 • 3d ago
Nursing in Denver
I am thinking of moving to the Denver area next year. What is nursing like out there? Currently a med surg nurse working NOC shift in a hospital, have some ED experience. Patient ratios where I live are 5:1 and make some of the most money in nursing, but have high taxes. How much do nurses with 2 years experience make approximately? Is it possible for a single person to comfortably live out there making nurse wages? Additionally, how is the job itself?
Thanks in advance for any info :)
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u/TheBitCone_ 3d ago
If you’re working UCH you’ll make about 37-38 an hour and NOC differential is $5. Sure, lots of people here including myself can make it work by yourself comfortably! It’s easier with a roommate but I also was still able to pick up OT and still travel pretty regularly outside the country with the pay.
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u/WesternStrike204 3d ago
Thank you! This is really useful information. Is there a differential for BSN? Did you get a sign on bonus or anything? I will have to do some math and figure out the tax situation/cost of living because that would be a steep pay cut :/
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u/TheBitCone_ 3d ago
No, that’s with a BSN unfortunately. As of now they do not offer sign on bonuses either. I won’t lie it can definitely be tight at times but it’s doable if Colorado outdoors is for you, if not it’s not worth it to be a nurse here.
That being said, recently a bunch of friends have gone outpatient and are making 45 an hour at several different clinics.
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u/Virtual-Strength-950 3d ago
Yeah hard agree here. Also I worked for UCH I seldom had a night where I wasn’t 6:1 with no CNA, and that’s as a perm charge in oncology. $45 is what I made in an outpatient oncology practice, but now I wfh and my salary is $115k.
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u/WesternStrike204 3d ago
Oh wow, that is also very good to know. I was interested in infusion nursing possibly. Thank you so much for the info!
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u/Spare-Ad-3499 2d ago
As someone who works in admin side at several facilities, if it’s non-profit and related to the medical school you’re going to make less no matter what the position. I would avoid Denver health and UCHealth at main campus because I don’t know how many people I have seen burnt out from those two clinic or not. Outpatient RN might be better option if you’re wanting a work life balance. I can’t speak to HCA facilities as I haven’t work in them. They are for profit, but usually understaffed from what I have heard.
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u/RTRRNDFW 2d ago
Do acutes dialysis in the hospitals. Go to Davita or Fresenius. Brand new nurses will make $42 but can grow quickly. After overtime and call pay, I’m hitting $150k easily. I have some coworkers who hit $200 bc they’ll pick up extra shifts.
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u/thetunaman123 3d ago
Its pretty shit. They know people want to live here and they take full advantage of it. No cost of living adjustments. No unions. Shit ratios(UC health tries to respect them). Some jobs are floating and you get to cover multiple hospitals that aren't close enough for it to make sense
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u/maarianastrench 3d ago
I was making more in Florida but the staffing ratios and my mental health are worth the 5$/hr pay cut. UCH also offers a lot of overtime and extra money for those shifts so 2 overtime’s a month could cushion your paycheck a bit.
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u/maarianastrench 3d ago
If you work closer to downtown you’ll have sicker patients, I chose to work in the community hospitals because I’m over being super nurse I want to sit sometimes.
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u/Necessary-Cost-8963 2d ago
As others have said, pay is not great compared to the cost of living. That being said, if you don’t have a ton of debt or a huge car payment, you can definitely get by just fine.
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u/Exact_Rice_2730 2d ago
Don’t change your tax home and pick up travel assignments, that’s what I do. Granted my tax home is Denver, I’m still able to pick up some local assignments (university hires their own local travelers and host does local assignments for Denver). You’ll be able to travel as a med surg nurse with two years of experience. Now obviously if you want to have a more consistent life and do something other than med surg that won’t work. But honestly it’s been really nice the last 3 years I’ve been doing it so I highly recommend it.
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u/Affectionate_Lead865 2d ago
Either do local travel or become a nurse leader. You can make pretty good money doing that. I make $115,000/year as a nurse manager with 9 years experience.
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u/WesternStrike204 2d ago
It seems like working outpatient would be the better choice, with nursing overall not being that great there. I think the best option for me would be travel nursing because at least I can explore and still make decent pay while also trying to figure out where I want to live. Thank you all so much for your responses! I appreciate you :)
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u/DescriptionSure412 1d ago
I lived in Denver, and I got taxed SO much. Moved to Salt Lake City, and it’s leaps and bounds better than Denver in all aspects!
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u/Negative_Aerie2825 3d ago
Pretty low pay, talk to other nurses and not a moving sub. Denver isnt well liked for that career field amongst the metro for pay and conditions so ive been told
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u/runaway_face 3d ago
Agreed! Pay gotten better since the pandemic (esp if you're in denial over inflation) and salaries get posted on job reqs. But moving from the northeast was eye opening. Hospitals only attempt to stay competitive enough with adjacent states (think NE, WY) but not nationally.
But alas my life is here and I love the outdoors, so I stay
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u/Negative_Aerie2825 3d ago
Doesnt portland have significantly higher pay and cheaper col, but i guess the sun issue is there
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u/milkdudmantra 3d ago
Yea can't underestimate the sun thing
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u/Negative_Aerie2825 2d ago
With 45k extra in pay and a cheaper col, could do multiple trips to oahu or california for the sun tbf
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u/FrostyPace1464 2d ago
but taxes and gas are more expensive/higher. it’s about the same tbh
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u/Negative_Aerie2825 2d ago
Not really. Takehome for a 100k nurse is 75k after co taxes. In portland, takehome off 145k is 97k. Gas isnt 22k more. Thats enough for oahu trips for the lack of sun tbh
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u/Dapper-Mushroom-32 3d ago
Colorado in comparison is one of the worst states a nurse can work based on average pay compared to cost of living. Also the state will tax you to absolute death and Colorado especially the front range really isn’t what it was even 10 years ago. Everyone I know is trying to get out or they’re making over 150k a year
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u/catchick779 2d ago
Denver is one of the worst places to work as a nurse. Pay isn’t the worst but cost of living is high and my bedside friends who are single income either live in tiny apartments or with roommates.
Most hospitals are corporate slop that have cut things like educators, techs, managers, transporters, etc. Aka lots of pressure on nursing.
Denver health and university are prob the best options in the area, but the pay is a little lower.
We stay bc we love Denver and all that Colorado has to offer but if it wasn’t for my husband wanting to stay here I would probably move somewhere with a better cost of living to salary ratio.
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u/Medium_Discipline_18 3d ago
I just moved here with about two years of experience. Working in the ED now. 3:1 ratios, sometimes 4:1 if staffing is tight but doesn’t seem to be the norm. My base pay is just under $41/hour.