Per Diem Nursing Jobs in Boulder, Colorado
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Working as a nurse in Boulder
Boulder’s healthcare community serves one of Colorado’s most distinctive metros, with steady demand for nurses and CNAs across the area. From acute care to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and senior-living communities across Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, and Superior, Boulder County offers a broad mix of settings for RNs, LPNs, and CNAs.
Boulder Community Health anchors care in the city, with UCHealth and Intermountain Health facilities serving nearby Longmont and the wider county, alongside a network of skilled nursing and assisted living communities that keep per diem opportunities open throughout the week.
Colorado is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. If you hold a qualifying multi-state RN or LPN license from another compact state, you can practice in Colorado without applying for a separate Colorado license. CNAs must meet Colorado certification requirements.
With Switch, you browse available shifts, choose when you work, and get paid quickly — giving you more control over your schedule and your income.
About Boulder
Set against the Flatirons and home to the University of Colorado, Boulder is known for its outdoor lifestyle, tech economy, and the Pearl Street Mall. High costs of living make flexible, well-paid per diem work especially attractive for nurses across Boulder County.
Nursing pay in Boulder, Colorado
RNs working per diem across Colorado are paid $46.50–$60.63/hr, LPNs $36–$55.65, and CNAs $25–$31.25 (Switch — rates paid on completed shifts, last 12 months).
Figures are the middle 50% of hourly rates actually paid to providers on completed Switch shifts over the last 12 months, including weekend and holiday premiums, measured across Colorado where a role has too little local shift history to report on its own. Rates vary by facility and shift — you’ll see the exact rate on every shift before you claim it. As a 1099 provider you cover self-employment tax and benefits.
What nurses actually earn in Boulder, Colorado
Switch rates are what providers were actually paid on completed shifts over the past year — not a starting rate. Shown against local wages for employed staff nurses.
| Role | Switch (1099 per diem) | Local staff wages (W-2) |
|---|---|---|
| CNA | $25–$31.25/hr top shifts to $37.50 | $22–$26/hr |
| LPN | $36–$55.65/hr top shifts to $58.50 | $34–$39/hr |
| RN | $46.50–$60.63/hr top shifts to $67.50 | $43–$53/hr |
Switch figures are the middle 50% of hourly rates actually paid on completed shifts in the last 12 months, including weekend and holiday premiums; “top shifts” is the 95th percentile. Local staff wages are employed (W-2) hourly ranges from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025. As a 1099 provider you cover self-employment tax and benefits, so the two figures are not directly equivalent.
What nurses say about Switch
“Working for Switch has been a wonderful experience and has also been empowering for a busy mom like myself. I have the privilege to pick and choose my own schedule and work around my hectic schedule outside of work as a parent.”
“I have been with Switch for about five years now and the thing that I like the best about them is because they care about their workers. They pay me quickly, which is a good thing. Being with Switch brings me peace of mind. Great agency to work for!”
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FAQs about working in Boulder
Does Switch have shifts across Boulder?
Yes. Switch connects clinicians with opportunities throughout Boulder County, including Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, and nearby communities as facilities become available.
Do I need a Colorado nursing license to work per diem shifts in Boulder?
Colorado is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If you hold a qualifying multistate RN or LPN license from another compact state, you can generally work in Colorado without a separate Colorado license. CNAs must hold a valid Colorado certification before accepting shifts.
How much do per diem nurses and CNAs make in Boulder?
Pay varies by role, experience, facility type, and demand. Weekend, holiday, and high-demand shifts often pay more. With Switch, you’ll always see the exact pay before you accept a shift.
Can I pick up shifts around a full-time job or nursing school?
Yes. Many RNs, LPNs, and CNAs use Switch to add income around a full-time position, nursing school, or family life, with no minimum-hour requirements. You choose which shifts fit your schedule.