Locum Physician Compensation in Colorado
Survey benchmarks by specialty and facility setting. Compact state — multi-state license eligible.
Colorado — Benchmark Rates by Specialty
Median hourly rates in $/hr. Region: West.
| Specialty | Urban Hospital — MedianUrban Median | Rural / Critical Access — MedianRural Median |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology | $358/hr | $414/hr |
| Cardiology | $302/hr | $263/hr |
| Dermatology | $364/hr | $317/hr |
| Emergency Medicine | $258/hr | $280/hr |
| Family Medicine | $149/hr | $172/hr |
| Gastroenterology | $380/hr | $397/hr |
| General Surgery | $322/hr | $280/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $398/hr | $416/hr |
| Hospitalist | $194/hr | $224/hr |
| Internal Medicine | $153/hr | $172/hr |
| Neonatology | $226/hr | $269/hr |
| Neurology | $295/hr | $325/hr |
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | $290/hr | $327/hr |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $421/hr | $366/hr |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | $351/hr | $367/hr |
| Pain Management | $391/hr | $409/hr |
| Pathology | $352/hr | $307/hr |
| Pediatrics | $152/hr | $168/hr |
| Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | $210/hr | $219/hr |
| Psychiatry | $201/hr | $248/hr |
| Radiology | $432/hr | $376/hr |
| Urology | $351/hr | $368/hr |
Highest-Paying Specialties in Colorado
Urban median hourly rate
| Specialty | Urban Median |
|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgery | $507/hr |
| Hematology-Oncology | $448/hr |
| Radiology | $421/hr |
| Pain Management | $404/hr |
| Neurology | $382/hr |
Colorado Market Overview
State income tax: 4.4% top marginal rate.
Colorado combines a highly educated, health-conscious urban population along the Front Range with geographically isolated mountain and rural communities that face persistent physician shortages. UCHealth, SCL Health, and Centura Health dominate the Denver metro. Mountain communities such as Aspen, Telluride, and the San Luis Valley rely on locum physicians for coverage, often offering competitive rates given the isolation premium. Cost of living in Denver and resort communities is high and generally reflected in rates.
Licensing: Colorado participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). A compact license held in another state can be used in Colorado without a separate CO license application.