Do I need a Colorado license to take a contract in Colorado?

Colorado is an NLC compact state. Ski-season ED and ortho contracts peak December through March. If your home state is also a compact state, your multistate RN license is valid for Colorado contracts on day one.

How does blended (taxable + stipend) pay work?

A standard travel package combines a taxable hourly rate with tax-free housing and meal stipends, provided you maintain a permanent tax home. The weekly totals shown here are blended — what hits your bank account before federal/state income tax on the hourly portion.

Is housing arranged or do I find my own?

Most travelers take the stipend and arrange housing (Furnished Finder, Airbnb monthly, extended-stay hotels). Company-arranged housing is available but typically reduces your weekly take-home.

What happens between contracts?

Most travelers line up the next contract 2–4 weeks before the current one ends. There's no employer-paid PTO — you build your own buffer. Some travelers take planned 1–2 week breaks between assignments.

What's the cost of living like in Colorado?

Colorado is roughly at the national cost of living (~111%). Stipends comfortably cover most housing markets across the state.

How do I choose the right agency?

Compare pay packages line by line (hourly + stipend + benefits + reimbursements), not just the headline weekly number. Ask about cancellation policy, guaranteed hours, and whether your recruiter stays with you for the full assignment.

Staffing · CO

Per Diem Nurses in Colorado

111+ open per diem nurses contracts across Colorado — averaging $2,550/week blended, with 5 top-rated agencies competing for your assignment.

Browse open contracts Talk to a recruiter

111+
Open contracts
$2,550
Avg weekly (blended)
5
Top agencies
Yes
Compact license

State overview

Why per diem nurses choose Colorado

Per diem RNs in Colorado pick up shifts on their own schedule across multiple facilities — ideal for building income flexibility without the long-haul commitment of travel.

Colorado is an NLC compact state. Ski-season ED and ortho contracts peak December through March. Top demand metros: Denver, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Fort Collins.

Open contracts

Per Diem Nurses contracts in Colorado

A snapshot of active assignments across the state. Sample data shown — recruiter sees live inventory.

Facility	City	Specialty	Length	Shift	Weekly	Start
Memorial Medical Center Level I Trauma	Denver, CO	Med-Surg	Per diem	Nights 3x12	$2,675	Starts in ~1 week
St. Luke's Regional Academic Medical	Colorado Springs, CO	ER	Per diem	Days 3x12	$2,800	Starts in ~2 weeks
University Health Community Hospital	Boulder, CO	ICU	Per diem	Rotating 3x12	$2,350	Starts in ~3 weeks
Mercy General LTAC	Fort Collins, CO	L&D	Per diem	Mid 4x10	$2,475	Starts in ~4 weeks
Mountain View Hospital Level I Trauma	Denver, CO	Float Pool	Per diem	Nights 3x12	$2,625	Starts in ~5 weeks
Coastal Regional Medical Academic Medical	Colorado Springs, CO	Post-Op	Per diem	Days 3x12	$2,750	Starts in ~1 week
Northside Trauma Center Community Hospital	Boulder, CO	Cath Lab	Per diem	Rotating 3x12	$2,300	Starts in ~2 weeks
Riverside Community Hospital LTAC	Fort Collins, CO	Med-Surg	Per diem	Mid 4x10	$2,425	Starts in ~3 weeks

Memorial Medical Center

$2,675/wk

Level I Trauma · Denver, CO

Med-SurgPer diemNights 3x12Starts in ~1 week

St. Luke's Regional

$2,800/wk

Academic Medical · Colorado Springs, CO

ERPer diemDays 3x12Starts in ~2 weeks

University Health

$2,350/wk

Community Hospital · Boulder, CO

ICUPer diemRotating 3x12Starts in ~3 weeks

Mercy General

$2,475/wk

LTAC · Fort Collins, CO

L&DPer diemMid 4x10Starts in ~4 weeks

Mountain View Hospital

$2,625/wk

Level I Trauma · Denver, CO

Float PoolPer diemNights 3x12Starts in ~5 weeks

Coastal Regional Medical

$2,750/wk

Academic Medical · Colorado Springs, CO

Post-OpPer diemDays 3x12Starts in ~1 week

Northside Trauma Center

$2,300/wk

Community Hospital · Boulder, CO

Cath LabPer diemRotating 3x12Starts in ~2 weeks

Riverside Community Hospital

$2,425/wk

LTAC · Fort Collins, CO

Med-SurgPer diemMid 4x10Starts in ~3 weeks

Pay ranges

Per Diem RN salary in Colorado

Blended weekly = taxable hourly + tax-free housing/meal stipends. Annual assumes 48 contracted weeks.

Specialty	Weekly (blended)	Annualized
Med-Surg	$2,100 – $2,900	$100,800 – $139,200
ER	$2,175 – $2,975	$104,400 – $142,800
ICU	$2,275 – $3,075	$109,200 – $147,600
L&D	$2,350 – $3,150	$112,800 – $151,200
Float Pool	$2,450 – $3,250	$117,600 – $156,000

Cost-of-living adjusted to Colorado's index of ~111% of the national baseline.

Facility types

Where you'll work

The same role pays and feels different depending on the facility type.

Level I Trauma Centers

Highest-acuity emergency, surgical, and ICU work. Premium pay, intense pace, top-tier learning.

Academic Medical Centers

Teaching hospitals affiliated with medical schools. Complex cases, multidisciplinary teams, EHR-mature.

Community Hospitals

Mid-size facilities serving regional populations. Balanced acuity and steady, predictable schedules.

Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC)

Extended-stay medical units for medically complex patients — vent weaning, complex wound care, long IV courses.

Skilled Nursing Facilities

Post-acute rehab and long-term care. Strong demand for therapists, LPNs, and per diem RNs.

Outpatient & Ambulatory

Surgery centers, infusion clinics, and specialty outpatient practices. Daytime hours, predictable schedules.

Credentials

Required certifications

The baseline credentials for per diem nurses working in Colorado. Most agencies cover renewal fees for active travelers.

RN License
BLS
ACLS
Specialty certs (unit-dependent)

Recruiter network

Top-rated agencies for this market

Independent ratings from working travelers. Sample illustrative data — your recruiter sees live inventory.

Vivian Health

4.7(12,400)

Response: Under 4 hrs

Travel RNAlliedPer diem

Transparent pay packages, no negotiations

Aya Healthcare

4.6(9,800)

Response: Same day

Travel RNCrisis

Largest contract inventory in the country

Cross Country Healthcare

4.5(7,200)

Response: Same day

Travel RNLocum

Day-one health benefits, 401k match

Medical Solutions

4.8(6,400)

Response: Under 2 hrs

Travel RNAllied

Dedicated recruiter for the full assignment

Trusted Health

4.7(4,100)

Response: Under 6 hrs

Travel RNICU/ER

Self-service job search, transparent stipends

Frequently asked

Per Diem Nurses in Colorado: common questions

Same role, other states

Per Diem Nurses in Texas Per Diem Nurses in California Per Diem Nurses in Florida Per Diem Nurses in New York Per Diem Nurses in Arizona

Other roles in Colorado

Travel Nurses in Colorado Travel Allied Health in Colorado Locum Tenens in Colorado

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