Colorado · Ortho PA placement
Orthopedic PA jobs and hiring in Colorado's mountain towns
In short
FirstAssistPA places orthopedic PAs in Colorado's mountain towns, including Vail, Aspen, Summit County and Steamboat Springs, on 3 to 6 month ski-season contracts or permanently. Housing is usually the deciding factor, so we negotiate it into the offer. Your first placement is free, with a free replacement if you aren't happy.
Hiring an ortho PA in Colorado's mountain towns
Ortho in the ski towns follows the snow. Winter brings a surge of knee, shoulder, wrist and tibial plateau injuries, and a 3 to 6 month contract PA who can splint, reduce and run a fracture clinic can carry a practice through it.
Housing is the hard part. Resort towns have little affordable rental stock, and a good PA may turn down the job over it. Practices that can provide housing, or a stipend that actually covers it, hire faster. The local hospitals are Level III trauma centers on the state list, with higher-level care down the hill on the Front Range.
What to plan for
- Housing, provided or fully covered by a stipend. It's usually the deciding factor.
- A start date weeks before the season opens, allowing time for a Colorado license and privileges.
- The PA's practice hours, since Colorado's collaborative agreement stays supervisory under 5,000 hours (3,000 in a new practice area).
- Whether the contract can extend or convert to permanent after the season.
Mountain hospitals and their trauma levels
Local hospitals in the resort towns, with their levels from the Colorado state designation list. The most serious trauma goes to Level I and II centers on the Front Range.
| Hospital | City | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Vail Health Hospital | Vail | Level III |
| Aspen Valley Hospital | Aspen | Level III |
| St. Anthony Summit Hospital | Frisco | Level III |
| UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center | Steamboat Springs | Level III |
| Valley View Hospital | Glenwood Springs | Level III |
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, designated trauma facilities, checked September 24, 2026. Designations change; confirm with the hospital.
Colorado PA rules, in brief
A high-level summary for planning a hire, not legal advice. Each point links to its source.
- Since SB23-083 (2023), Colorado PAs practice under a collaborative agreement rather than physician supervision. SB23-083
- For a PA with fewer than 5,000 practice hours, or fewer than 3,000 hours in a new practice area, the collaborative agreement works as a supervisory agreement. That matters when you hire a new grad or someone new to ortho. SB23-083
- In the emergency department of a Level I or II trauma center, the agreement stays supervisory indefinitely. SB23-083
- Colorado is a member of the PA Licensure Compact. The Compact projects that privileges to practice will become available in early 2027; until then, a PA needs a Colorado license. PA Compact FAQ
What PAs are paid in Colorado's mountain towns
Government data for all physician assistants, not ortho specifically. Use it as an anchor, then adjust for first assist, call and experience. The U.S. median was $135,880 (May 2025).
| Area | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Colorado nonmetro area (includes Eagle, Pitkin, Summit and Routt counties) | $144,290$69.37/hr | $142,200 | $107,880 to $165,750 |
| Colorado, statewide | $134,540$64.68/hr | $139,580 | $104,590 to $174,090 |
The nonmetro figure rests on about 140 PAs, so treat it as directional.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, Physician Assistants (29-1071), May 2025 estimates.
For practices and for PAs
Hiring in the mountains?
Permanent, 3 to 6 month contract (locum) or per diem. Your first placement is free, and if you aren't happy with the PA we place, we find a replacement at no cost.
Ortho PA looking in the mountains?
Free, ortho-only matching. We negotiate rate, stipend and schedule, and never send your CV without asking.
Questions about the mountains
Can you place an orthopedic PA for ski season in Vail or Aspen?
Yes. We place 3 to 6 month W-2 contract PAs timed to the season in Vail, Aspen, Summit County and Steamboat, and negotiate housing or a stipend into the offer.
Is housing included in mountain contract roles?
It depends on the practice, and we ask up front. Housing is scarce and expensive in resort towns, so we put it in writing in the offer before a PA says yes.
Does a PA need a Colorado license for a seasonal contract?
Yes. A PA needs a Colorado license to practice in Colorado. Colorado has joined the PA Licensure Compact, but compact privileges aren't projected to be available until early 2027.
What does FirstAssistPA charge to place an orthopedic PA in Colorado's mountain towns?
Nothing for your first placement, permanent or contract. If you aren't happy with the PA we place, for any reason, we find a replacement at no cost. PAs never pay a fee.