Salary report · Denver, CO

What is the average Registered Nurse salary in Denver, CO?

Registered Nurses in Denver earn a median of $94,700 per year — about 10% above the national average. Pay ranges from $68,200 (25th percentile) to $146,800 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$68,200
Median
$94,700
75th percentile
$121,200
90th percentile
$146,800
YoY change
+3.5%

Registered Nurse salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$61,600
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$94,700
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$121,200
Lead · 8+ yrs
$137,300

How Denver pay compares

Denver median$94,700
National median$86,070
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 121)$78,300

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Denver salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$83K
2022
$85K
2023
$88K
2024
$92K
2025
$95K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.5%.

Registered Nurse job market in Denver

Denver is a fast-growing tech and aerospace hub. Cost of living has risen but remains below coastal cities; Colorado state tax is a flat 4.4%.

An estimated 2,500 registered nurses work in the Denver metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Administer medications
  • Monitor patient vitals
  • Document patient care
  • Coordinate with physicians
  • Educate patients on conditions

Related job salaries in Denver

Registered Nurse salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Registered Nurse make in Denver, CO?+

Registered Nurses in Denver earn a median of $94,700 per year — about 10% above the national average of $86,070.

What's the entry-level Registered Nurse salary in Denver?+

Entry-level Registered Nurses in Denver typically earn around $61,600 per year. Salaries scale to about $137,300 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $94,700 a good Registered Nurse salary in Denver?+

$94,700 is the median, meaning half of Registered Nurses in Denver earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 121, that's roughly $78,300 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Registered Nurse pay growing in Denver?+

Registered Nurse salaries in Denver grew about 3.5% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +6%.

Where do Registered Nurses in Denver get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Registered Nurse salary in Denver is around $146,800. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Denver?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Denver median.

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