RN Salary by Role in Colorado
RN Pay by Metro in Colorado
Where you work inside Colorado moves your paycheck. Here is what registered nurses earn in each major Colorado market, compared with the national RN median of $97,550. Tap a metro for hospitals, openings and cost of living.
| Metro | Median RN pay | Typical range | NP median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $101,130 | $85,390 – $109,760 | $134,040 |
Powered by RN Workforce Insights™. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
About RN Pay in Colorado
Registered nurses in Colorado are paid above the national median, averaging roughly $82,000 a year for staff RN roles.
In Colorado, compensation grows considerably as nurses gain experience and take on more responsibility. New grad RNs typically start around $60,000, with specialty nurses in units like the ICU, ER, or OR averaging closer to $93,000. Moving into leadership brings a meaningful jump — nurse managers average about $104,000, directors of nursing around $121,000, and chief nursing officers can earn $143,000 or more. For nurses pursuing advanced practice roles (NP, CNS, CRNA, CNM), average pay in Colorado runs near $104,000.
As a Nurse Licensure Compact member, Colorado issues multistate RN and LPN licenses to residents, allowing nurses to practice across other compact states without applying for a separate license — a real advantage for travel nursing or remote telehealth work.
As with any state, factor in local cost of living and taxes alongside salary when evaluating job offers in Colorado.
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