What to Pay a Nurse Practitioner in Denver, CO (2026)
How to set your NP 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.
NP salary percentile distribution in Denver, CO
Where the Denver market actually sits for NP base pay.
Most Denver employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($138,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $125,000 and a max of $158,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Colorado pay transparency compliance for NP job postings
What you must post when hiring a NP 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 NP role in Denver, a compliant good-faith range looks like $125,000 to $158,000. Colorado requires a specific range — not a single number. A good-faith range is $125,000–$158,000 for this role.
Top NP employers in Denver — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring NPs in the Denver metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| HealthONE / HCA Mountain | Health system | $132K–$168K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
| UCHealth | Academic medical center | $135K–$170K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Centura Health / CommonSpirit | Health system | $130K–$165K | Very common ($12K–$20K) |
| Kaiser Permanente Colorado | Integrated health system | $132K–$168K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Denver Health | Public health system | $122K–$155K | Loan repayment programs |
NP talent supply and hiring difficulty in Denver
How hard is it to fill a NP role in Denver.
Denver NP market anchored by HealthONE, UCHealth, and Centura. Colorado's mature PT law makes range comparisons transparent. FNP and PMHNP are dominant demand segments.
Skill premiums NP candidates command in Denver, CO
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| PMHNP | +10–16% | Very high |
| AGACNP | +8–13% | Very high |
| Bilingual Spanish | +4–6% | High |
| DEA prescriptive authority | Required | Standard |
NP total compensation in Denver — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for NPs in Denver. "Prevalence" reflects share of Denver disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Denver Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $138,000 (median) | 100% |
| Productivity bonus (RVU) | $15K–$38K | ~60% |
| Sign-on bonus | $10,000–$22,000 | ~64% |
| Loan repayment | $25K–$48K total | ~24% |
| CME allowance | $3,000–$5,000/yr | ~88% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$165K–$195K | — |
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.
NP pay by setting in Denver — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the NP range splits by employer type in the Denver metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care | $125,000 | $112K–$140K | Moderate |
| Hospital (acute care) | $152,000 | $135K–$172K | Very high |
| Specialty clinic | $145,000 | $130K–$165K | High |
| Urgent care | $130,000 | $118K–$148K | Moderate |
| Psychiatric / PMHNP | $162,000 | $145K–$185K | Very high |
NP 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 | $138,000 | — | Above national avg |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $125,000 | −9.4% | Moderate |
| Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ | $138,000 | 0.0% | Above national avg |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $158,000 | +14.5% | Tight |
| Colorado statewide | $130,000 | −5.8% | — |
| U.S. national | $129,210 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Nurse Practitioner in Denver, CO
Related NP 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.