Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Colorado | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $100,260 | $98,331 | +2% |
| Median hourly wage | $48.20 | $47.27 | +2% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $97,245.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $94,677 | $71,500 | $115,500 | 115 |
| Colorado Springs | $86,070 | $65,000 | $105,000 | 105 |
The median annual salary for a Registered Nurse in Colorado is $100,260, or about $48.20 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Registered Nurses is $98,331. Colorado is +2% above the national median.
Entry-level registered nurses in Colorado typically earn from $71,500 depending on the city and employer.
With 54,490 registered nurse jobs on record and a median salary of $100,260, Colorado offers above-average pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, registered nurses rank 135 of the 738 occupations reported in Colorado — higher than 82% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Orthodontists at $416,000, Dermatologists at $398,810, Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric at $385,410 — all figures are median annual wages for Colorado.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Colorado levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 105.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, registered nurses rank 135 of the 738 occupations reported in Colorado — higher than 82% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Colorado | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | $416,000 | $160 |
| Dermatologists | $398,810 | $260 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $385,410 | $410 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $360,820 | — |
| Neurologists | $356,250 | $120 |
| Radiologists | $344,270 | $500 |
Colorado levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 105.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 738 occupations in Colorado.