ICU Nurse Salary Guide · Colorado 2026

ICU Nurse Salary Colorado 2026

What UCHealth Anschutz, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver Health, and Intermountain Health Colorado ICU nurses actually earn—and why the Denver critical care market rewards specialty credentials above the statewide RN mean.

Colorado's BLS OEWS May 2025 RN mean of approximately $86,900 is one of the few states where the all-RN average sits meaningfully below the national mean of $101,420—but it does not reflect what critical care nurses at UCHealth Anschutz or Children's Hospital Colorado are actually earning. ICU RNs in Colorado's Level I trauma and academic medical center corridor carry a significant specialty premium; the estimated statewide ICU RN mean sits near $97,800, with top earners at UCHealth and Children's reaching $95,000–$107,000 annually before CCRN differentials and shift premiums.

I've worked critical care travel contracts across multiple Mountain West states, and Colorado is interesting because the workforce dynamics don't follow the pattern you'd expect from the all-RN mean. Denver's labor market is genuinely competitive for experienced critical care nurses: UCHealth competes with Children's Hospital, Denver Health, and Intermountain Health for the same pool of CCRN-certified RNs, and that competition shows up in pay bands. If you're a travel CCRN nurse considering the Mountain West, Colorado's compact license advantage and Denver's premium over smaller Mountain West markets make it worth pricing at current rates.

Employer-by-Employer Pay: UCHealth, Children's Hospital, Denver Health & More

Colorado's ICU nursing market is anchored by four major systems in the Denver metro and Aurora corridor: UCHealth (University of Colorado Hospital at Anschutz Medical Campus), Children's Hospital Colorado (pediatric ICU/NICU), Denver Health Medical Center, and Intermountain Health Colorado. Each serves a distinct patient population with a different acuity profile and pay structure.

Employer	Type / Location	ICU RN Base Range
UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital	Level I trauma, academic, Aurora/Anschutz	$38–$56/hr
Children's Hospital Colorado	Pediatric Level I trauma, PICU/NICU, Aurora	$38–$54/hr
Denver Health Medical Center	Safety-net Level I trauma, Denver	$36–$52/hr
Intermountain Health Colorado (SCL Health)	Regional system, Denver/Boulder/Fort Collins	$35–$50/hr
HealthONE/HCA (Medical Center of Aurora, Rose)	Community ICUs, Denver metro	$33–$48/hr
Centura/Commonspirit (St. Anthony's)	Regional Level II trauma, Lakewood/Denver	$33–$47/hr
UCHealth Northern Colorado (Medical Center of the Rockies)	Regional Level II, Loveland/Fort Collins	$32–$46/hr
Mountain community hospitals (Vail, Aspen, Summit)	Small rural/resort ICUs	$36–$52/hr

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital at the Anschutz Medical Campus is Colorado's flagship academic Level I trauma center. Its ICU program spans surgical ICU, medical ICU, cardiac ICU, neuro ICU, and a level IV neonatal unit. The combination of high-complexity volume, academic teaching mission, and proximity to the University of Colorado School of Medicine creates strong demand for CCRN-certified nurses and a pay structure that leads the state. A mid-career CCRN at UCHealth earning $52/hr on a 36-hour week clears $99,840 annually before shift differentials.

Children's Hospital Colorado is the second major anchor. Its pediatric ICUs—PICU, CICU (cardiac ICU), NICU, and neuro PICU—serve the most complex pediatric patients in the Mountain West region. Pay tracks closely with UCHealth at $38–$54/hr, reflecting similar labor market competition for specialty-certified nurses. Children's offers an active PICU residency program for nurses transitioning from adult critical care, which has historically attracted nurses willing to accept a lower starting wage in exchange for structured specialty training.

Denver Health occupies a different position. As Denver's safety-net public hospital and Colorado's only ACS Level I trauma center in the city proper (separate from UCHealth at Anschutz in Aurora), Denver Health's ICU nurses handle a high volume of trauma, penetrating injuries, and complex medical admissions from an underserved population. Pay is slightly lower than UCHealth — the base range runs $36–$52/hr — but Denver Health has a well-regarded trauma nursing culture and union contract protections that some nurses value more than the top of the pay range at a private academic center.

Altitude, Acuity, and the Mountain Hospital Premium

Colorado's resort and mountain community hospitals are a separate market that doesn't fit the urban academic pattern. Vail Health, Aspen Valley Hospital, and Summit Health all operate small critical care units at altitude—typically 6 to 12 ICU beds serving a mix of local residents, resort workers, trauma from ski and outdoor recreation injuries, and altitude illness presentations (HACE, HAPE) that are uncommon elsewhere. The same altitude medicine premium that appears in ER pay shows up in ICU pay: these facilities post ICU rates of $36–$52/hr that match or exceed many Denver-area community hospitals, despite serving much smaller patient volumes.

The mountain hospital ICU niche is particularly interesting for travel nurses with wilderness medicine or altitude exposure. A CCRN-certified travel nurse who can credibly manage HACE (high-altitude cerebral edema) or HAPE (high-altitude pulmonary edema) alongside standard trauma and medical ICU cases is a different clinical asset than a travel nurse who needs 8 hours of altitude orientation before they can safely manage a patient presenting at 9,000 feet. That scarcity shows up as above-average travel rates for ICU contracts in mountain communities: Vail, Aspen, and similar markets have posted $2,600–$3,000/week for CCRN-certified travel ICU nurses, with ski-season demand (November through April) driving the highest rates.

CCRN Certification: What the Premium Buys You in Colorado ICUs

The CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) credential, awarded by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), adds $3–$5/hr in discrete pay differential at most Colorado ICU employers. At UCHealth and Children's Hospital Colorado, CCRN is a prerequisite for clinical expert, charge nurse, and preceptor positions that start at $50–$58/hr—roles that are not accessible from the bedside without the credential, regardless of years of experience.

The CCRN exam requires a current RN license and 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely or critically ill patients within the past two years (with 875 hours in the most recent year preceding application). The exam costs $245 for AACN members, $345 for non-members. Most Colorado Level I trauma centers and academic ICUs—UCHealth, Children's, Denver Health—reimburse the exam fee as part of professional development benefits. UCHealth has also historically offered a clinical ladder step-increase tied to CCRN attainment: the Level III to Level IV advancement at UCHealth is worth $2.50–$3.50/hr, making the CCRN a meaningful financial event rather than a symbolic credential.

PCCN (progressive care) and CCRN-K (CCRN-certified knowledge) are available for nurses in stepdown and progressive care units. Both carry smaller premiums than the full CCRN ($1.50–$2.50/hr at most Colorado employers) but are accessible earlier in a career and are valid recognition for nurses working in the Colorado ICU market who aren't yet eligible for full CCRN.

ICU Credential / Specialty	Approximate Premium	Access Role
CCRN (adult, pediatric, or neonatal)	+$3.00–$5.00/hr	Clinical expert, charge nurse, preceptor
PCCN (progressive care)	+$1.50–$2.50/hr	Stepdown charge, clinical educator
Pediatric ICU (PICU) specialty	+$2.00–$4.00/hr	Children's Hospital CICU/PICU team
Cardiac ICU (CICU) / IABP experience	+$3.00–$5.00/hr	Cardiac ICU service line
Trauma certified (TCRN)	+$2.00–$3.50/hr	Trauma ICU, Level I center on-call

Travel ICU Nursing in Colorado: $2,400–$2,900/Week and What Drives the Rate

Travel ICU RN contracts in Colorado run $2,400–$2,900 per week all-in for standard 13-week assignments as of late 2026. UCHealth Anschutz and Denver Health post the highest ICU travel rates at $2,600–$2,900/week during peak staffing periods, driven by Level I trauma volume and academic medical center census fluctuations. Children's Hospital Colorado PICU travel contracts run $2,400–$2,700/week, with pediatric ICU specialty experience required. Intermountain Health Colorado and HealthONE community ICUs post at $2,300–$2,500/week.

Mountain community ICU travel contracts are the standout in Colorado's travel market. Vail Health and Aspen Valley Hospital have posted ICU travel rates of $2,600–$3,000/week for ski-season contracts (November through April), reflecting both the altitude/specialty premium and the geographic isolation that limits the pool of nurses willing to work and live in mountain resort communities on a 13-week contract. These contracts also typically include employer-arranged housing at below-market resort rates, which meaningfully improves the net-pay comparison against Denver-based contracts where housing costs are the nurse's responsibility.

Colorado's eNLC compact license membership eliminates a major friction point for travel ICU nurses. A compact-state nurse can sign a Colorado travel contract and begin working without waiting for a separate Colorado license. That matters particularly for ICU nurses, where contracts are sometimes urgent: a unit with two CCRN-certified travelers leaving in the same week needs replacements quickly, and a license that takes 8–16 weeks to process is not a practical solution. Colorado's compact status means the agency can commit to a start date in two to three weeks rather than three to four months.

Colorado has a flat 4.40% state income tax that applies to all wages earned in Colorado, including travel nursing compensation. The rate is one of the more predictable and moderate state income tax rates in the Mountain West. For a travel ICU nurse earning $2,700/week in Colorado ($140,400 annualized), the state tax adds approximately $5,800–$6,200 annually compared to zero-income-tax states. Some Colorado municipalities (Aurora, for example) levy a small local occupational privilege tax, but the amounts are nominal ($2–$5 per month) compared to the state tax obligation.

How to Push Your Colorado ICU Nurse Pay Past $105,000

Reaching $105,000 or more as a Colorado ICU nurse requires either the right combination of employer, credentials, and shift selection in the Denver academic corridor, or strategic use of mountain community travel rates during ski season. The path is shorter than the statewide RN mean suggests.

Credentials first: CCRN is the single most powerful lever in Colorado ICU pay. At UCHealth, the clinical ladder advancement tied to CCRN attainment adds $2.50–$3.50/hr; the charge position differential adds another $2–$4/hr on call shifts. A CCRN-certified charge nurse at UCHealth working night shifts clears $54–$60/hr effective rate before overtime, which annualizes above $100,000 on a 36-hour schedule.

Night shift and weekends: UCHealth's night differential runs approximately 12–15% of base, and weekend differentials stack on top. A UCHealth ICU RN with CCRN working consistent nights and rotating weekend premiums adds $8,000–$12,000 annually to base compensation without additional hours. That alone bridges the gap from the statewide RN mean to $100,000+.

Mountain community travel: A ski-season ICU travel contract at Vail Health ($2,700–$3,000/week, housing often included) represents $140,400–$156,000 annualized. Colorado's flat 4.40% income tax is more predictable than some other travel markets, and employer-arranged housing in mountain resorts reduces out-of-pocket living costs. One full ski-season travel contract (November through April, two 13-week assignments) clears more than most Colorado ICU staff nurses earn in a full year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average ICU nurse salary in Colorado?

BLS OEWS May 2025 supplemental data places the Colorado RN mean near $86,900 annually. ICU and critical care RNs earn a significant specialty premium above the general mean; a Colorado ICU RN estimated mean sits near $97,800, with CCRN-certified nurses at UCHealth Anschutz and Children's Hospital Colorado earning $38–$56/hr ($73,000–$107,000 annually on a 36-hour week).

How much does UCHealth pay ICU nurses?

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (Anschutz Medical Campus) posts ICU RN positions in the $38–$56/hr range for experienced staff, translating to $73,000–$107,000 annually on a 36-hour week. UCHealth's Level I trauma designation and academic medical center volume create strong demand for CCRN-certified critical care nurses. Sign-on bonuses of $10,000–$18,000 have appeared for ICU RN positions requiring multi-year commitments.

Is CCRN certification worth it for Colorado ICU nurses?

Yes. The CCRN adds $3–$5/hr in discrete pay differential at most Colorado academic and Level I trauma centers. At UCHealth, CCRN-certified nurses access clinical expert and charge positions paying $50–$58/hr. The CCRN exam costs $245 for AACN members and requires 1,750 hours of direct care of acutely/critically ill patients in the past two years.

Is Colorado a compact nursing license state?

Yes. Colorado joined the eNLC, allowing nurses licensed in any of the 40-plus compact states to work Colorado assignments without a separate state license. Colorado's compact status is valuable for ICU travel nurses since it eliminates the 8–16 week license processing wait that non-compact states require.

What do travel ICU nurses earn in Colorado?

Travel ICU RN contracts in Colorado run $2,400–$2,900 per week all-in for standard 13-week assignments as of late 2026. UCHealth Anschutz and Denver Health post the highest ICU travel rates at $2,600–$2,900/week during peak staffing periods. Colorado's eNLC compact membership allows compact-state nurses to start assignments without a separate license. Colorado has a flat 4.40% state income tax that applies to all wages earned in the state.

Sources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 — National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates — national RN mean $101,420; Colorado supplemental data ~$86,900
• NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact Map — Colorado eNLC compact membership and implementation status
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) — CCRN Certification — eligibility requirements, exam cost, and renewal details
• UCHealth Careers — ICU RN job postings, pay bands, and clinical ladder details
• Children's Hospital Colorado Careers — PICU/NICU/CICU RN postings and nursing residency programs