What to Pay a Licensed Practical Nurse in Denver, CO (2026)
How to set your LPN pay range in Denver
Three pay positions, modeled against current Denver market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
LPN salary percentile distribution in Denver, CO
Where the Denver market actually sits for LPN base pay.
Most Denver employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($70,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $60,000 and a max of $80,000. 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.
| 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 Denver, a compliant good-faith range looks like $60,000 to $80,000. Colorado requires a specific range — not a single number. A good-faith range is $60,000–$80,000 for this role.
Top LPN employers in Denver — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring LPNs in the Denver metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| HealthONE / HCA Mountain | Health system | $68K–$86K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
| Centura Health / CommonSpirit | Health system | $66K–$84K | Common |
| UCHealth | Academic medical center | $68K–$86K | Sometimes |
| Denver Health | Public health system | $64K–$80K | Government benefits |
| Kaiser Permanente Colorado | Integrated health system | $66K–$84K | Sometimes |
| Brookdale Senior Living | SNF / assisted living | $56K–$70K | Common ($2K–$5K) |
LPN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Denver
How hard is it to fill a LPN role in Denver.
Denver's LPN market is healthier than coastal pay-transparency markets — Colorado was first in the nation with pay transparency (2021), so ranges have stabilized and the practice is mature. Demand is dominated by SNF and outpatient.
Skill premiums LPN candidates command in Denver, CO
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| IV therapy certification | +5–7% | Moderate |
| Bilingual Spanish | +3–6% | Moderate |
| Wound care certification | +6–9% | Moderate |
| Geriatric / SNF certification | +3–5% | High |
LPN total compensation in Denver — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for LPNs in Denver. "Prevalence" reflects share of Denver disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Denver Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $70,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +10–16% premium | ~76% |
| Sign-on bonus | $2,000–$6,000 | ~42% |
| Overtime opportunity | $5K–$11K annualized | ~84% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $2,500–$5,000/yr | ~34% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$82,000–$94,000 | — |
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 Denver — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the LPN range splits by employer type in the Denver metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing facility (SNF) | $64,000 | $56K–$72K | High |
| Hospital | $76,000 | $68K–$86K | Moderate |
| Outpatient / clinic | $68,000 | $60K–$76K | Moderate |
| Home health | $70,000 | $62K–$80K | High |
| Physician office | $64,000 | $56K–$72K | Low |
Denver's LPN landscape is dominated by SNF, with HealthONE and Centura/CommonSpirit as the major hospital systems and growing demand from Denver Health's outpatient network.
LPN salary in Denver vs. other Colorado and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Denver | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO | $70,000 | — | Moderate |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $79,000 | +12.9% | Above national avg |
| Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ | $62,000 | −11.4% | Moderate |
| Colorado statewide | $66,000 | −5.7% | — |
| U.S. national | $63,540 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse in Denver, CO
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.