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What to Pay a Licensed Practical 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
$56,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$49K–$64K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+3.9%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~22
Colorado Springs metro average
To hire a Licensed Practical Nurse in Colorado Springs at market, plan on a base salary range of $49,000 to $64,000, with $56,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 22 days, expect to lead at $64K–$74K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Colorado REQUIRES pay range disclosure under the EPEWA.

How to set your LPN 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
$43K–$49K
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
$53.2K–$59.2K
Default for most Colorado Springs employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~22 days. A range width of ~30% (min $49,000 to max $64,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a LPN's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$60.8K–$74K
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.

LPN salary percentile distribution in Colorado Springs, CO

Where the Colorado Springs market actually sits for LPN base pay.

10th $43K
25th $49K
Median $56K
75th $64K
90th $74K

Most Colorado Springs employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($56,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $49,000 and a max of $64,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Colorado pay transparency compliance for LPN job postings

What you must post when hiring a LPN 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 LPN role in Colorado Springs, a compliant good-faith range looks like $49,000 to $64,000. Colorado requires a specific range — not a single number. A good-faith range is $49,000–$64,000 for this role.

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

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

Employer Type Disclosed Range Sign-on Bonus
UCHealth Memorial Hospital Health system $53K–$66K Common ($3K–$5K)
Centura Health – Penrose-St. Francis Health system $52K–$65K Common ($3K–$5K)
Brookdale Senior Living SNF / assisted living $46K–$57K Very common ($3K–$6K)
Genesis Healthcare SNF network $46K–$57K Very common ($3K–$6K)
Bethesda Healthcare SNF network $45K–$57K Common ($2K–$5K)

LPN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Colorado Springs

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

~22
Avg Days to Fill
~700
Active Postings
~8,300
Colorado Springs LPN Workforce
Moderate
Supply : Demand

Colorado Springs LPN market anchored by skilled nursing facilities and long-term care. LPN scope-of-practice patterns vary by state; SNF turnover drives most churn.

Skill premiums LPN candidates command in Colorado Springs, CO

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
IV therapy certification +5–8% High — where LPN scope permits
Bilingual Spanish +3–6% High
Wound care certification (WCC, CWS) +6–9% Moderate — SNF and home health
Long-term care certification +3–5% High — SNF concentration

LPN total compensation in Colorado Springs — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for LPNs 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 $56,000 (median) 100%
Shift differential +10–18% premium ~78%
Sign-on bonus $3K–$7K ~44%
Overtime opportunity $4K–$10K annualized ~88%
Tuition reimbursement (LPN-to-RN bridge) $2,500–$5,000/yr ~32%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$67K–$78K

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.

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

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

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
Skilled nursing facility (SNF) $50,000 $46K–$57K High — chronic turnover
Hospital $62,000 $55K–$68K Moderate
Outpatient / clinic $54,000 $48K–$60K Moderate
Home health $55,000 $49K–$63K High
Physician office $50,000 $45K–$57K Low

FAQ: hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse in Colorado Springs, CO

Market median is $56,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $56,000 — typically $49,000 to $64,000. To lead the market, plan on $64K–$74K 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.
$50,000 falls below the Colorado Springs market median of $56,000 — 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 44% of Colorado Springs LPN postings include a sign-on bonus, concentrated in SNF and home health ($3K–$7K).
Average fill time is approximately 22 days in the Colorado Springs metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($64K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($49K) 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, Brookdale Senior Living, Genesis Healthcare, Bethesda Healthcare lead the pack.
A 30–35% range width (min to max) is standard for LPN in Colorado Springs — for example, $49,000 to $64,000. 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 LPN pay benchmarks — Colorado metros and nearby nursing roles

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