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What to Pay a Medical-Surgical 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
$89,000
base, annual
Competitive Range
$77K–$102K
25th–75th percentile
YoY Movement
+3.7%
trailing 12 months
Days to Fill
~28
Colorado Springs metro average
To hire a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Colorado Springs at market, plan on a base salary range of $77,000 to $102,000, with $89,000 as the midpoint. To attract candidates in a market where average time-to-fill runs 28 days, expect to lead at $102K–$117K plus a sign-on bonus, common in skilled nursing settings. Colorado requires a pay range in job postings.

How to set your Med-Surg 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
$68K–$77K
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
$84.2K–$94.2K
Default for most Colorado Springs employers. Competitive enough to fill in ~28 days. A range width of ~30% (min $77,000 to max $102,000) keeps compa-ratio movement smooth across a Med-Surg RN's typical 8–12 year tenure.
Lead Market
Pay Above Median
$96.8K–$117K
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.

Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Colorado Springs, CO

Where the Colorado Springs market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.

10th $68K
25th $77K
Median $89K
75th $102K
90th $117K

Most Colorado Springs employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($89,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $77,000 and a max of $102,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.

Colorado pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings

What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Colorado.

Required. Colorado's Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires all employers with at least one Colorado employee to include the pay range and a general description of benefits and other compensation in job postings, including remote roles that could be performed in Colorado. The rule has applied since January 1, 2021. Penalties run from $500 to $10,000 per violation, enforced by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
Requirement Applies When Penalty for Non-Compliance
Pay range in job postings All employers with at least one employee in Colorado must follow the law, regardless of size. Penalties range from $500 to $10,000 per violation.
General description of benefits in postings All covered postings Same as above

For a Med-Surg RN role in Colorado Springs, a compliant good-faith range looks like $77,000 to $102,000. Job ads must include the hourly or salary pay rate or range, a general description of benefits and other compensation, and the date the application window is expected to close.

Top Med-Surg RN employers in Colorado Springs — who you're competing against

Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg 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 $84K–$105K Very common ($10K–$18K)
Centura Health – Penrose-St. Francis Health system $84K–$105K Very common ($10K–$18K)
Children's Hospital Colorado – Colorado Springs Pediatric specialty $84K–$105K Very common ($10K–$18K)
Peak Vista Community Health Centers FQHC $78K–$100K Loan repayment
Evans Army Community Hospital Military / federal $80K–$101K Federal benefits

Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Colorado Springs

How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Colorado Springs.

~28
Avg Days to Fill
~2,670
Active Postings
~26,700
Colorado Springs Med-Surg RN Workforce
Tight
Supply : Demand

Colorado Springs med-surg RN market is the largest RN specialty by headcount. High turnover ratio drives constant recruitment cycles.

Skill premiums Med-Surg RN candidates command in Colorado Springs, CO

Skill / Credential Pay Premium Demand Signal
CMSRN (Med-Surg certified) +5–8% Standard progression
Telemetry / step-down experience +4–7% High
Charge nurse experience +5–8% High
BSN (vs ADN) +5–8% Standard at Magnet hospitals

Med-Surg RN total compensation in Colorado Springs — what candidates expect beyond base

Total rewards mix for Med-Surg 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 $89,000 (median) 100%
Shift differential +12–20% premium ~90%
Sign-on bonus $7K–$16K ~76%
CMSRN certification pay +5–8% on base ~48%
Overtime opportunity $10K–$20K annualized ~94%
Estimated total comp benchmark ~$107K–$125K —

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.

Med-Surg RN pay by setting in Colorado Springs — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health

Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Colorado Springs metro.

Setting Median Competitive Range Hiring Difficulty
Adult med-surg (community) $84,000 $75K–$96K Very high
Adult med-surg (academic) $91,000 $80K–$103K Very high
Telemetry / step-down $94,000 $84K–$107K Very high
Progressive care unit (PCU) $96,000 $85K–$109K Very high
Ortho / surgical unit $89,000 $80K–$101K High

FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Colorado Springs, CO

Market median is $89,000 for base pay. To match market, set a range with the midpoint at $89,000 — typically $77,000 to $102,000. To lead the market, plan on $102K–$117K base plus a sign-on bonus.
Colorado's Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires all employers with at least one Colorado employee to include the pay range and a general description of benefits and other compensation in job postings, including remote roles that could be performed in Colorado. The rule has applied since January 1, 2021. Penalties run from $500 to $10,000 per violation, enforced by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. For this role in Colorado Springs, a good-faith range is $77,000–$102,000.
$80,000 falls below the Colorado Springs market median of $89,000 — 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 76% of Colorado Springs med-surg RN postings include a sign-on bonus ($7K–$16K). Highest values at large hospital systems for tele/step-down roles.
Average fill time is approximately 28 days in the Colorado Springs metro. Roles paid above the 75th percentile ($102K+) fill in roughly 18–22 days. Roles below the 25th percentile ($77K) 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 Med-Surg RN in Colorado Springs — for example, $77,000 to $102,000. Narrower than 25% compresses progression and creates compa-ratio pressure within 18 months.
All postings for roles that can be performed in Colorado are covered, including remote roles.

Related Med-Surg RN 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.