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What to Pay an ICU Registered Nurse in Colorado Springs, CO (2026)

Last updated: May 15, 2026 Built for: Total Rewards, Comp, HR Sample: BLS OEWS + disclosed-range postings
Market Median
$104,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$90K–$120K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+4.1%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~32
Colorado Springs metro average
To hire a ICU Registered Nurse in Colorado Springs at market, plan on a base salary range of $90,000 to $120,000, with $104,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 32 days, expect to lead at $120K–$137K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Colorado REQUIRES pay range disclosure under the EPEWA.

How to set your ICU RN pay range in Colorado Springs

Three pay positions, modeled against current Colorado Springs market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.

Lag Market
Pay Below Median
$79K–$90K
Workable in non-acute settings with strong non-cash differentiation. Expect longer fill times and turnover ~1.4× the Colorado Springs average.
Match Market — recommended
Pay at Median
$98.4K–$110.4K
Default for most Colorado Springs employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~32 days. A range width of ~30% (min $90,000 to max $120,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a ICU RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$113.6K–$137K
Use for hard-to-fill specialties (wound care, IV therapy, bilingual), 24/7 SNF roles, or when speed-to-hire trumps budget. Reduces fill time by 35–45% on average.

ICU RN salary percentile distribution in Colorado Springs, CO

Where the Colorado Springs market actually sits for ICU RN base pay.

10th $79K
25th $90K
Median $104K
75th $120K
90th $137K

Most Colorado Springs employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($104,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $90,000 and a max of $120,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Colorado pay transparency compliance for ICU RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a ICU RN in Colorado.

Required. Colorado's Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires employers with even one Colorado employee to include the compensation range and benefits summary in every posting.
Requirement Applies When Penalty for Non-Compliance
Pay range in job posting 1+ Colorado employees or remote roles open to CO residents $500–$10,000 per violation
Benefits summary in posting All covered postings $500–$10,000 per violation
Notify current employees of promotions All covered employers $500–$10,000 per violation

For a ICU RN role in Colorado Springs, a compliant good-faith range looks like $90,000 to $120,000. Colorado requires a specific range — not a single number. A good-faith range is $90,000–$120,000 for this role.

Top ICU RN employers in Colorado Springs — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring ICU RNs in the Colorado Springs metro and what they're posting.

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
UCHealth Memorial Hospital Academic medical center system $98K–$123K Very common ($10K–$18K)
Centura Health – Penrose-St. Francis Health system $98K–$123K Very common ($10K–$18K)
Children's Hospital Colorado – Colorado Springs Pediatric specialty $98K–$123K Very common ($10K–$18K)
Peak Vista Community Health Centers FQHC $92K–$116K Loan repayment
Evans Army Community Hospital Military / federal $94K–$119K Federal benefits

ICU RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Colorado Springs

How hard is it to fill a ICU RN role in Colorado Springs.

~32
Avg Days to Fill
~866
Active Postings
~832,000
Colorado Springs ICU RN Workforce
Very tight
Supply : Demand

Colorado Springs ICU RN market reflects broader RN supply constraints, with critical care specialty demand elevated by post-COVID staffing gaps.

Skill premiums ICU RN candidates command in Colorado Springs, CO

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
CCRN Required baseline Standard
Cardiac subspecialty +7–11% Very high
Trauma / Level I experience +6–10% Very high
BSN (vs ADN) +5–8% Standard at Magnet hospitals

ICU RN total compensation in Colorado Springs — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for ICU RNs in Colorado Springs. "Prevalence" reflects share of Colorado Springs disclosed-range postings including each element.

Component Typical Value Prevalence in Colorado Springs Postings
Base salary $104,000 (median) 100%
Shift differential +16–24% premium ~94%
Sign-on bonus $10K–$21K ~80%
CCRN certification pay +8–12% on base ~72%
Overtime opportunity $11K–$23K annualized ~94%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$127K–$150K —

Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.

ICU RN pay by setting in Colorado Springs — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the ICU RN range splits by employer type in the Colorado Springs metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
MICU $100,000 $89K–$114K Very high
SICU $104,000 $94K–$119K Very high
Cardiac ICU (CICU) $110,000 $98K–$125K Very high
Neuro ICU $108,000 $96K–$123K Very high
PICU $106,000 $96K–$121K Very high

FAQ: hiring a ICU Registered Nurse in Colorado Springs, CO

Market median is $104,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $104,000 — typically $90,000 to $120,000. To lead the market, plan on $120K–$137K base plus a sign-on bonus.
Yes. Colorado's EPEWA requires a pay range and benefits summary in every posting, even for remote roles that could be filled by a Colorado resident.
$93,000 falls below the Colorado Springs market median of $104,000 — roughly at the 25th–50th percentile locally. Acceptable in SNF or physician office settings where the candidate pool is deeper; below-market for hospital or specialty roles.
Roughly 80% of Colorado Springs ICU RN postings include a sign-on bonus ($10K–$21K).
Average fill time is approximately 32 days in the Colorado Springs metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($120K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($90K) commonly take 45+ days and have elevated turnover within the first 90 days.
By Colorado Springs-metro posting volume: UCHealth Memorial Hospital, Centura Health – Penrose-St. Francis, Children's Hospital Colorado – Colorado Springs, Peak Vista Community Health Centers, Evans Army Community Hospital lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for ICU RN in Colorado Springs — for example, $90,000 to $120,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months. Colorado does not cap range width, but the range must reflect what the employer genuinely expects to pay.
Yes. Colorado requires pay disclosure for internal postings and promotions, not just external job ads.

Related ICU RN pay benchmarks — Colorado metros and nearby nursing roles

Same role, nearby metros
ICU RN pay benchmark — Denver, CO → ICU RN pay benchmark — Salt Lake City, UT → ICU RN pay benchmark — Albuquerque, NM → All ICU RN pay benchmarks →
Related roles in Colorado Springs
Certified Nursing Assistant pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Licensed Practical Nurse pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Nurse Practitioner pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Physical Therapist pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Physician Assistant pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Respiratory Therapist pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Surgical Technologist pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Travel Nurse pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Emergency Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → Operating Room Registered Nurse pay benchmark — Colorado Springs → All roles' pay benchmarks →

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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.