The average nurse practitioner salary in Colorado is $132,540 per year, with a median of $132,930. The close alignment between the mean and median suggests a relatively even distribution of pay across the state, though the full range runs from $87,770 at the 10th percentile to $170,310 at the 90th percentile. When budgeting a hire, use the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the candidate's experience level and specialty.
Nurse practitioner salary in Colorado (2026)
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The average nurse practitioner salary in Colorado is $132,540 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $132,930 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Colorado employs 4,270 nurse practitioners, and the $390 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior nurse practitioners in Colorado typically earn around $87,770, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $170,310 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner hire in Colorado, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $132,930 |
Average Annual Salary | $132,540 |
vs. National Average | 3.5% below the national mean of $137,300 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,270 employed nurse practitioners across Colorado.
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Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in Colorado
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $87,770 |
25th Percentile | $118,410 |
75th Percentile | $150,990 |
90th Percentile | $170,310 |
Employers setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in Colorado should expect a wide range depending on experience level, with entry-level candidates clustering near $87,770 and experienced specialists commonly earning above $150,990. Budgeting toward the 75th percentile or higher will be necessary to attract candidates with established clinical experience in competitive Colorado markets.
Nurse practitioner salary by city in Colorado
City | Average Annual Salary |
Denver | $135,320 |
Colorado Springs | $129,980 |
Fort Collins | $129,250 |
Boulder | $128,320 |
Greeley | $124,270 |
Employers hiring in Denver should budget meaningfully more than those hiring in Greeley or Boulder, since location alone accounts for an $11,050 spread in average pay across Colorado metros. Denver leads the state at $135,320, while Greeley sits at the lower end at $124,270. If your role is remote-eligible or based outside the Denver metro, you may have room to set a more conservative offer without losing competitive positioning.
How Colorado compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
California | $176,760 | $168,520 |
Washington | $152,180 | $156,100 |
Arizona | $140,600 | $134,420 |
Utah | $137,060 | $130,920 |
Colorado | $132,540 | $132,930 |
Texas | $131,420 | $131,670 |
Colorado sits near the lower end of this peer group, making it a relatively cost-effective market for nurse practitioner hiring compared to California and Washington. Colorado's mean of $132,540 runs $44,220 below California and $19,640 below Washington, but tracks closely with Texas at $131,420. Employers competing for candidates who have offers from Arizona or Utah will need to close a smaller gap, since those states sit only modestly above Colorado's figures.
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in Colorado
How much does an NP in Colorado make?
How does Colorado compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?
Colorado's average nurse practitioner salary of $132,540 sits 3.5% below the national mean of $137,300, and below neighboring states like Arizona ($140,600) and Utah ($137,060). California and Washington pay substantially more, at $176,760 and $152,180 respectively. If you are competing for candidates who hold offers from those higher-paying states, you will need to factor in total compensation, benefits, and cost of living to close the gap.
What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in Colorado?
Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in Colorado earn $170,310 per year. Candidates at this level typically bring specialized clinical expertise or leadership responsibilities that justify compensation well above the state median of $132,930. If you are recruiting for a senior or specialized role, plan to anchor your offer toward or above the 75th percentile of $150,990 to remain competitive.
What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in Colorado?
The salary range for a nurse practitioner in Colorado runs from $87,770 at the 10th percentile to $170,310 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $118,410 at the 25th percentile and $150,990 at the 75th percentile, which is where most competitive offers will land. Use the seniority and specialization of the specific role you are filling to determine where within that range your offer should sit.
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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