What to Pay an Operating Room Registered Nurse in Denver, CO (2026)
How to set your OR RN 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.
OR RN salary percentile distribution in Denver, CO
Where the Denver market actually sits for OR RN base pay.
Most Denver employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($120,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $106,000 and a max of $138,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Colorado pay transparency compliance for OR RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a OR RN 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 OR RN role in Denver, a compliant good-faith range looks like $106,000 to $138,000. Colorado requires a specific range — not a single number. A good-faith range is $106,000–$138,000 for this role.
Top OR RN employers in Denver — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring OR RNs in the Denver metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| HealthONE / HCA Mountain | Health system | $116K–$148K | Very common ($12K–$22K) |
| UCHealth | Academic medical center | $118K–$150K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Centura Health / CommonSpirit | Health system | $114K–$142K | Very common ($15K–$25K) |
| Kaiser Permanente Colorado | Integrated health system | $116K–$148K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Surgical Care Affiliates (ASCs) | Ambulatory surgery centers | $102K–$132K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
OR RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Denver
How hard is it to fill a OR RN role in Denver.
Denver OR RN market driven by HealthONE, UCHealth, Centura.
Skill premiums OR RN candidates command in Denver, CO
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CNOR | +8–12% on base | Standard |
| Cardiothoracic OR | +7–11% | Very high |
| Orthopedic OR | +6–10% | High |
| Robotic surgery cert | +6–10% | Growing |
OR RN total compensation in Denver — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for OR RNs in Denver. "Prevalence" reflects share of Denver disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Denver Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $120,000 (median) | 100% |
| Call pay (standby + callback) | $5–$10/hr standby + 1.5–2× hourly | ~95% |
| Sign-on bonus | $10,000–$25,000 | ~76% |
| CNOR certification pay | +8–12% on base | ~68% |
| Overtime opportunity | $10K–$20K annualized | ~92% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$152K–$182K | — |
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.
OR RN pay by setting in Denver — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the OR RN range splits by employer type in the Denver metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| General OR | $116,000 | $104K–$135K | Very high |
| Cardiothoracic OR | $125,000 | $110K–$142K | Very high |
| Neurosurgery OR | $122,000 | $108K–$140K | Very high |
| Orthopedic OR | $120,000 | $108K–$138K | Very high |
| Ambulatory surgery center | $108,000 | $96K–$124K | Tight |
OR RN 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 | $120,000 | — | Tight |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $104,000 | −13.3% | Tight |
| Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ | $118,000 | −1.7% | Very tight |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $145,000 | +20.8% | Very tight |
| Colorado statewide | $112,000 | −6.7% | — |
| U.S. national | $106,000 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Operating Room Registered Nurse in Denver, CO
Related OR 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.