R.N. pay scale for Colorado

U.S.A. Colorado

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My wife and I are thinking of moving to Colorado after we get our R.N. license. Any information about different cities, towns, hospitals, and pay would be helpfull. We live in a nice town in California 12,000 population and have 3 boys ages 6, 10, and 12. Thank you for your help.

It could be she is working PRN....meaning she gets higher pay in lieu of benefits. 3 years ago I worked full time as a LTC LPN and made $19 hr on the night shift. and as a RN made $23 (new grad) but I know LPN's with experience make as much as new grad RN's.

I have heard the same thing and didnt believe it at 1st(or didnt want too!!) but the more I look in a lot of cases its true!

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You get paid far better in Ca and they have a very strict nurse to patient ratio. However, the cost of living is far greater. I've called the hospitals in CS and Denver and most of their new graduates start around $23, which if you work nights, the total yearly salary equates to around $48k which is nothing for living there. I have family and friends who live there and all of them are making over 50K.

Colorado is a "right to work" state and so, there are no unions in the state. However, my mother just recently told me that there is something on the ballot for November to "ABOLISH" the right to work and allow unions to come into the state and protect the workers. Soooo, if you are living in Colorado, get registered and pass this law:)

Oh and I've heard from many nurses, the working conditions are deplorable and they have a low retention of nurses. I also found out from my friend who is a manager in the ER (not nurse) how much she is making. It's more than an RN and she is NOT college educated:(

I currently live in a "Right To Work" state, and have been a part of a union in this state. Nothing illegal about that.

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Specializes in Trauma.
I currently live in a "Right To Work" state, and have been a part of a union in this state. Nothing illegal about that.

I'm sorry. I don't quite get your point. I don't think I made a reference to the illegality of it all.

If this makes any reference to your point, I know of two nurses in the state of Colorado who have been fired for trying to start a union. A "right to work" state basically in lamens terms, can fire you for whatever reason; keep nurse to patient ratios the way they want and suppress wages. A union would protect workers in Colorado; better the working conditions; lower nurse to pt ratios and increase wages. Hopefully.

Correct me if I'm wrong, as I work in a state that is covered by unions and also one the higher paying states in the country.

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Sorry, maybe I misunderstood. I am in full support of unions, and was a member of one for several years. I am glad I had the union. And, the company and union were all located in a "Right to Work State". So, unions and "right to work states" are not mutually exclusive. Colorado can have unions in it. Companies cannot fire someone for talking about a union, even in a "right to work" state. That is illegal in all 50 states! Now, they can fire the person for other reasons, but not for bringing up a union conversation. Still, companies fire people for "other reasons", even though the real reason is that the person wanted a union. If there is enough solid evidence though, the company could be in big legal trouble. People in CO and other places shouldn't be scared of being fired for bringing up a conversation about a union. People need to stand up for themselves.

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Specializes in Trauma.
Sorry, maybe I misunderstood. I am in full support of unions, and was a member of one for several years. I am glad I had the union. And, the company and union were all located in a "Right to Work State". So, unions and "right to work states" are not mutually exclusive. Colorado can have unions in it. Companies cannot fire someone for talking about a union, even in a "right to work" state. That is illegal in all 50 states! Now, they can fire the person for other reasons, but not for bringing up a union conversation. Still, companies fire people for "other reasons", even though the real reason is that the person wanted a union. If there is enough solid evidence though, the company could be in big legal trouble. People in CO and other places shouldn't be scared of being fired for bringing up a conversation about a union. People need to stand up for themselves.

Agreed. And after re-reading your post, I am the one who misunderstood.

Yes, it is illegal for them to fire for talking about starting a union. As you stated, they will fire for other reasons.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, Ortho.

Does anyone know where exactly I need register to pass the law bringing unions to Colorado?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, Ortho.

i just looked at the list of right to work states and found out that colorado is not right to work state as well as ca, nm, or, wa, mt, mn, mo, il and many states on north-east. those are forced-unionism states. you can check it yourself here: http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm

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Specializes in Trauma.
Does anyone know where exactly I need register to pass the law bringing unions to Colorado?

You have to be registered to vote in Colorado before the November 4th election.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Colorado_Right_to_Work_Initiative_(2008)

I'm SO confused. I have always been told that Colorado, where I was raised, is a right to work state. From friends and family alike. Right to work weakens unions and allows non paying members to get the same benefits as a unionized member who does pay. Also, right to work state employees, receive anywhere from $4000-$5000 less than non right to work states. Wow...

Colorado is one of the lowest paying states in the nation. How can that be if unions are there? Are they not in action? Have I missed something?

I mean, certainly we all know that a right to work state keeps the wages of their employees, suppressed. It made perfect sense to me that they're a right to work state; hearing how low their wages are.

I apologize for the misinformation, btw:)

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Specializes in MPCU.

U.S. department of labor statistics, places the mean wage for registered nurses in the Denver area at $34.16 per hour - Please review - http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncbl1036.pdf. The mean wage in Colorado overall for registered nurses is reported as $29.76. (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_co.htm#b29-0000)

The mean wage for registered nurses nationally is $30.04. (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#b29-0000)

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics web site http://www.bls.gov/ has a lot of useful information on jobs, job market and cost of living. It is a bit awkward at times to find what you want but the information is very reliable, unlike the commercial sites. They even show you how they obtain the data, again unlike the commercial sites.

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Specializes in Trauma.
U.S. department of labor statistics, places the mean wage for registered nurses in the Denver area at $34.16 per hour - Please review - http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncbl1036.pdf. The mean wage in Colorado overall for registered nurses is reported as $29.76. (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_co.htm#b29-0000)

The mean wage for registered nurses nationally is $30.04. (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#b29-0000)

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics web site http://www.bls.gov/ has a lot of useful information on jobs, job market and cost of living. It is a bit awkward at times to find what you want but the information is very reliable, unlike the commercial sites. They even show you how they obtain the data, again unlike the commercial sites.

This is not true for new graduate RN's which is what I was referring too. The pay scale for new grads is $24 to $26 if you're lucky and in the Denver area. It is $21-$23 in Colorado Springs, with a differential of maybe a few to three dollars. MAX pay for an experienced RN is around $35 I've heard. Colorado is still one of the LOWEST PAYING states and comparing it with cost of living, it's not good at all.

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Specializes in MPCU.

"This is not true for new graduate RN's which is what I was referring too. The pay scale for new grads is $24 to $26 if you're lucky and in the Denver area. It is $21-$23 in Colorado Springs, with a differential of maybe a few to three dollars. MAX pay for an experienced RN is around $35 I've heard. Colorado is still one of the LOWEST PAYING states and comparing it with cost of living, it's not good at all."

I don't agree with your figures, but that's O.K. I posted information and a resource for anyone interested in obtaining verifiable facts. I can understand how being in the actual market, looking for a job, can be more to the point.

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CO does have unions in it already. They are well established there. I love CO, and would love to move back there, and wish the salaries around Denver were higher for the new grad.

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