Moving between states / Colorado
Washingtonto
Colorado, Truck driverMoving from Washington to Colorado as a CDL holder
What a CDL holder licensed in Washington has to do to work in Colorado, what the move does to your pay, and who in Colorado is hiring from out of state.
Transfers at the DMV. A commercial driver's licence transfers like any licence: within 30 days of becoming a Colorado resident you surrender the Washington CDL at a Colorado driver licence office, pass the vision test, pay the fee, and your endorsements carry over. A hazmat endorsement needs a fresh TSA threat assessment in Colorado. Your driving record follows you through the federal CDLIS system.
What the move does to your paycheck
On a $60,000 salary Colorado takes roughly $2,640 a year more than Washington does, because you are leaving a state with no income tax on wages.
| Salary | Washington state tax | Colorado state tax | Difference a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $0 | $1,760 | -$1,760 |
| $60,000 | $0 | $2,640 | -$2,640 |
| $90,000 | $0 | $3,960 | -$3,960 |
Rough figures for a single filer: exact in the flat-rate and no-tax states, approximated at 70% of the top bracket in the progressive ones. In Washington: no tax on wages; a 7% tax on large capital gains and a payroll premium for long-term care. Property and sales tax are not in it.
CNA: Washington to Colorado
Transfers by reciprocity. Your Washington certificate stays on the Washington State Department of Health, Nursing Assistant Certified program; to work in Colorado you apply to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Nurse Aide Registry for reciprocity. It accepts an active certificate in good standing from another state; there is no retest if your record is clean. Most registries list you within two to six weeks.
RN and LPN: Washington to Colorado
Works on day one. Both Washington and Colorado are in the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate RN or LPN licence from Washington is valid in Colorado the day you arrive. Once Colorado is your primary residence, apply there for a Colorado multistate licence; most boards allow 30 to 60 days.
Electrician: Washington to Colorado
Reciprocity likely. Colorado licenses electricians at state level through the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), and endorsement for journeymen licensed in a state with a comparable exam and a year of licensed work. Your Washington licence comes from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, a state body, which is what a reciprocity application needs: ask it for a verification letter before you move.
Does Colorado pay you to come?
No statewide program in Colorado pays people to move in. Towns sometimes list an offer through MakeMyMove, and employers in short-staffed trades pay relocation themselves; ask for it in writing before you accept.
Openings filed in Colorado
125 open positions filed with the Department of Labor by Colorado employers who could not fill them locally.
- Malware Defense Senior Manager (MRA)Bank of America · Denver
- Veterinary Assistant (VA) - DenverModern Animal, Inc. · Denver
- Senior Systems Engineer (Identity and Access)Flexport · Gunnison
- Injury Claims Examiner (Central to West region)USAA · Colorado Springs
- Business Banking Relationship Manager - Denver MarketBank of America · Denver
- Financial Solutions Advisor Registration Candidate - Citadel Financial Center - Spanish PreferredBank of America · Colorado Springs
Your own route from Washington to Colorado
Tell us your trade and your licence. We write the steps for your case, check the job offer for scams, and keep your resume ready for Colorado employers.
Plan my move to ColoradoSame move, by trade
CNA: Washington to Colorado · RN or LPN: Washington to Colorado · Electrician: Washington to Colorado · All licences: Washington to Colorado
From Washington to the states next to Colorado
Wyoming (no state income tax) · Nebraska (progressive, top rate 5.2%) · Kansas (progressive, top rate 5.58%) · Oklahoma (progressive, top rate 4.75%) · New Mexico (progressive, top rate 5.9%) · Arizona (flat 2.5% state income tax) · Utah (flat 4.5% state income tax)
To Colorado from the states next to Washington
Everything about working in Colorado · All moves between states · All 50 states