Utah RN Jobs 2025: Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden Salaries, Compact & Top Systems
I moved from Arizona to University of Utah Health two years ago, and Utah nursing is what happens when tech money meets healthcare infrastructure. Salt Lake City's growing like crazy—all those California tech refugees need hospitals. You're making $88K in SLC (I'm at $89K as an ICU RN with CCRN), $80K-$82K in Provo/Ogden. Housing's cheaper than Denver or Seattle ($1,200-$1,600 for a 1BR in decent SLC neighborhoods like Sugar House or Millcreek), but it's climbing 8-10% annually as Californians cash out and move in.
The LDS (Mormon) culture shift is real and you need to know what you're getting into. I'm not LDS, and it took adjustment. Utah's dry—literally and culturally. Want wine with dinner? You're going to a state liquor store. Sunday shopping? Limited. Coffee culture exists (thank god), but Utah's family-focused and community-oriented in ways Phoenix wasn't. The upside? My coworkers actually show up, help each other, and there's way less drama. The ICU team at U of U Health has been together for years—low turnover because people stay.
University of Utah Health is where I ended up for Level 1 trauma and academic medicine. It's Utah's flagship—we're seeing the sickest patients from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana (huge catchment area). The intensivists are excellent, we've got cutting-edge equipment (just got new ECMO machines), and the academic culture means you're learning constantly. Pay's $88K-$92K for experienced ICU, but the training is top-tier. Intermountain Health is the other major player—they've got 27+ hospitals across the region, so if you want career mobility without relocating states, Intermountain's your system.
Utah's a Compact state, massive advantage. I pick up PRN shifts in Idaho when I visit family (90-minute drive to Pocatello), no separate license needed. You can work Utah winters, Alaska summers, Colorado ski season—all on one multistate license. And if you're into outdoor stuff, Utah's unmatched. I'm skiing Alta or Snowbird in winter (45 minutes from my apartment), hiking Big Cottonwood Canyon in summer, and visiting Moab/Arches on long weekends. Colorado's got skiing too, but Utah's less crowded and cheaper.
Cost of living's the real win. SLC's affordable compared to Denver (20% cheaper housing), Portland (30% cheaper), or Seattle (40% cheaper). Provo and Ogden are even cheaper if you want small-city vibes. Utah's got 5% state income tax (moderate), but the low housing and no alcohol expenses (seriously, I'm saving $200/month not going to bars) mean my $89K salary feels like $100K+ elsewhere. I'm saving $1,400/month after maxing 401(k) and paying rent. That doesn't happen in most Western metros.
RN Salaries by Metro
Top Hospital Systems
Map: RN Hubs
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about this topic
Bottom Line: Utah's the Outdoor Nurse Paradise (If You Can Handle Dry Culture)
My honest assessment after two years: Utah nursing is exceptional IF the culture fits you. I'm making $89K at University of Utah Health, saving $1,400/month, skiing world-class resorts 45 minutes from my apartment, and working at a Level 1 trauma center that serves a four-state region. My Phoenix hospital was good, but U of U Health is operating at a different level—we're doing ECMO, complex transplants, research trials. The academic medicine here rivals anywhere in the country.
The LDS culture piece is non-negotiable to understand. If you're family-focused, outdoorsy, and don't need nightlife, Utah's perfect. My ICU team has potlucks, helps each other move, shows up to kids' soccer games. The community thing is real. But if you want craft cocktails and late-night bar culture, you'll hate it. Sunday everything closes early. Liquor laws are weird (seriously, Google "Utah Zion curtain" for a laugh). I'm not LDS and I'm fine, but I'm also 28, single, and spend weekends hiking instead of clubbing. Know yourself before you move here.
University of Utah Health if you want academic prestige and the toughest cases. Intermountain Health if you want system size (27 hospitals means you can transfer from SLC to St. George without changing employers). Both pay similarly ($88K-$92K experienced ICU), both have excellent benefits. HCA MountainStar if you want corporate nursing structure and slightly less intensity.
The outdoor access is unmatched. I'm skiing Alta (considered best snow in North America) for $75 lift tickets while Colorado charges $220 at Vail. Hiking in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, mountain biking in Park City, visiting Zion and Arches on long weekends. Five National Parks in Utah alone. The Compact license means I can work SLC winters and Alaska summers—I'm planning exactly that next year, maximize my income and chase moderate weather year-round.
My recommendation: Visit Utah for a week BEFORE accepting a job. Spend time in Salt Lake, talk to non-LDS people, see if the culture fits. If you're outdoorsy, health-conscious, and want world-class skiing 45 minutes from your ICU job, Utah's probably the best nurse lifestyle in America. If you need diverse nightlife and bar culture, Denver or Phoenix are better calls even though they're more expensive. Housing costs are climbing here (up 8-10% annually), so get in before Utah becomes the next Colorado. The smart nurses figured this out three years ago.