Registered Nurses Salary in Colorado
The median for registered nurses in Colorado is $100,260 a year, somewhat above the national $97,550 (+3%); the state ranks 14th of 51 states by median. Registered Nurses earn 68% more than the median across all occupations in Colorado ($59,800). Colorado pays more than every neighbouring state: Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Kansas range from $79,320 in Kansas to $99,500 in Arizona. Colorado employs 54,490 registered nurses, 19.0 per 1,000 jobs, the 21st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.87 is close to the national share.
Colorado vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $38.22 | $40.67 | $48.20 | $52.37 | $60.07 | $47.78 | 54,490 | 18.96 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $79,500 | $84,590 | $100,260 | $108,930 | $124,940 | $99,370 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $33.14 | $38.62 | $46.90 | $54.02 | $66.09 | $48.76 | 3,379,720 | – | – |
| Annual | $68,940 | $80,330 | $97,550 | $112,350 | $137,470 | $101,420 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 14th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 21st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.87
- Jobs per 1,000
- 18.96
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Colorado's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Colorado
7 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching Colorado publish a row for registered nurses, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $49.66 | $103,290 | $84,530 | $128,260 | 3,140 | 16.32 | 0.75 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $48.62 | $101,130 | $81,210 | $125,870 | 30,380 | 18.88 | 0.87 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $46.92 | $97,600 | $72,410 | $123,590 | ** | ** | ** |
| Greeley, CO | $46.30 | $96,300 | $75,960 | $119,490 | 1,390 | 11.63 | 0.54 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $46.22 | $96,140 | $77,460 | $123,250 | 6,800 | 21.52 | 0.99 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $46.15 | $95,990 | $78,050 | $123,500 | 2,130 | 31.76 | 1.46 |
| Pueblo, CO | $46.02 | $95,720 | $78,050 | $120,110 | 2,040 | 32.99 | 1.52 |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $49.81 | $103,610 | $77,700 | $130,560 | 1,930 | 14.62 | 0.67 |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $46.41 | $96,530 | $78,040 | $111,380 | 1,930 | 17.83 | 0.82 |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $42.50 | $88,400 | $66,090 | $106,770 | 1,400 | 19.92 | 0.92 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $48.20 | $100,260 | 54,490 | 0.87 |
| Arizona | $47.84 | $99,500 | 73,150 | 1.04 |
| Kansas | $38.14 | $79,320 | 33,800 | 1.08 |
| Nebraska | $40.74 | $84,730 | 24,720 | 1.11 |
| New Mexico | $45.36 | $94,340 | 17,980 | 0.95 |
| Oklahoma | $39.87 | $82,920 | 38,270 | 1.03 |
| Utah | $40.67 | $84,600 | 27,420 | 0.73 |
| Wyoming | $40.27 | $83,760 | 5,330 | 0.87 |
See the national page for Registered Nurses (every state ranked) and the Colorado wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Colorado estimates.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.