Healthcare Recruiting
Healthcare Recruiting in Colorado 2026: Top Employers, Pay, and Demand
Colorado's healthcare market combines Denver academic medicine (UCHealth / CU Anschutz), a mature HMO (Kaiser Permanente CO), and significant rural mountain and plains demand. Population inflow from coastal states has fueled steady recruiting activity.
Top Healthcare Employers in Colorado (2026)
| System | HQ | Employees | Hiring Focus 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCHealth | Aurora | 30,000+ | Academic subspecialties, cardiology, oncology, primary care |
| Centura Health (now CommonSpirit) | Denver (now CommonSpirit Mountain) | 22,000+ | Primary care, emergency medicine, nursing |
| HCA HealthONE | Denver | 12,000+ | Emergency medicine, surgery, hospitalists |
| Kaiser Permanente Colorado | Denver | 9,000+ | Primary care, preventive, integrated model |
| SCL Health (Intermountain) | Broomfield | 15,000+ CO | Primary care, cardiology, women's health |
| Children's Hospital Colorado | Aurora | 7,000+ | Pediatric subspecialties, research |
| Denver Health | Denver | 7,000+ | Academic, safety-net, behavioral health |
| Banner Health (CO) | Greeley | 5,000+ CO | Primary care, emergency medicine |
| Boulder Community Health | Boulder | 1,800+ | Primary care, OB/GYN, cardiology |
| Vail Health | Vail | 1,500+ | Orthopedics, emergency medicine |
Colorado Salary Benchmarks (2026)
| Role | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine | $278,000 | $25,000–$50,000 |
| Internal Medicine | $288,000 | $30,000–$55,000 |
| Hospitalist | $328,000 | $35,000–$70,000 |
| General Cardiology | $510,000 | $70,000–$140,000 |
| Psychiatry | $360,000 | $40,000–$80,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $388,000 | $40,000–$80,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $580,000 | $80,000–$160,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $123,000 | $10,000–$22,000 |
| RN (ICU) | $95,000 | $20,000–$40,000 |
| CRNA | $218,000 | $25,000–$50,000 |
Where the Demand Is Highest
Denver Metro: UCHealth, Centura, Kaiser, HCA HealthONE all compete. Strong primary care and specialty demand.
Northern CO (Greeley, Fort Collins): Banner Health + UCHealth-affiliated Poudre Valley. Significant population growth.
Colorado Springs: UCHealth Memorial + Centura Penrose-St. Francis. Growing tech/military demographic drives primary care demand.
Mountain Resort Communities (Vail, Aspen, Telluride): Orthopedic surgery + sports medicine premium. Seasonal PRN locum steady.
Rural Eastern Plains & Western Slope: Critical access hospitals, HRSA loan repayment.
Licensing Notes
- CO Medical Board processes in 60-90 days
- IMLC member — expedited option
- NP Full Practice Authority — CO grants full practice
- eNLC member — RNs with multistate license practice immediately
Contact Ava Health for CO openings.
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