What to Pay a Registered Nurse in Denver, CO (2026)
How to set your 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.
RN salary percentile distribution in Denver, CO
Where the Denver market actually sits for RN base pay.
Most Denver employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($100,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $88,000 and a max of $116,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Colorado pay transparency compliance for RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a 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 RN role in Denver, a compliant good-faith range looks like $88,000 to $116,000. Colorado requires a specific range — not a single number. A good-faith range is $88,000–$116,000 for this role.
Top RN employers in Denver — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring RNs in the Denver metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| HealthONE / HCA Mountain | Health system | $96K–$122K | Very common ($12K–$20K) |
| UCHealth | Academic medical center | $98K–$125K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Centura Health / CommonSpirit | Health system | $94K–$120K | Very common ($12K–$20K) |
| Denver Health | Public health system / Level I trauma | $92K–$118K | Government benefits |
| Kaiser Permanente Colorado | Integrated health system | $96K–$122K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Denver
How hard is it to fill a RN role in Denver.
Denver's RN market is healthy but tightening — HealthONE, UCHealth, and Centura anchor demand. Colorado's mature pay transparency law (first in the nation, 2021) has stabilized ranges and made side-by-side employer comparisons transparent for candidates.
Skill premiums RN candidates command in Denver, CO
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CCRN | +8–12% | Very high |
| CEN | +7–11% | Very high |
| CNOR | +8–12% | Very high |
| BSN (vs ADN) | +5–8% | Standard |
RN total compensation in Denver — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for RNs in Denver. "Prevalence" reflects share of Denver disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Denver Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $100,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $8,000–$20,000 | ~72% |
| Certification pay | +5–12% premium | ~56% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $3,000–$5,500/yr | ~62% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$125K–$150K | — |
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.
RN pay by setting in Denver — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the RN range splits by employer type in the Denver metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute-care hospital (med-surg) | $96,000 | $86K–$110K | Above national avg |
| ICU / Critical care | $118,000 | $104K–$135K | Very high |
| Emergency department | $114,000 | $100K–$130K | Very high |
| OR / Perioperative | $116,000 | $102K–$132K | High |
| Ambulatory / clinic | $84,000 | $76K–$96K | Moderate |
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 | $100,000 | — | Above national avg |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $88,000 | −12.0% | Moderate |
| Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ | $96,000 | −4.0% | Moderate |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $132,000 | +32.0% | Tight |
| Colorado statewide | $94,000 | −6.0% | — |
| U.S. national | $93,600 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Registered Nurse in Denver, CO
Related RN pay benchmarks — Colorado metros and nearby nursing roles
One page. One job. One city.
If you're modeling pay ranges across hundreds of roles and dozens of locations, doing this manually is the merit-cycle scramble that ate your last quarter. BetterComp keeps your full range structure current against live market data — without the survey lag.
See how it works →
Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.