Nurse Practitioner Salary in Denver, CO
Nurse Practitioners in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $134,040 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $97,693 take-home, or $8,141 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$20,904
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,310
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,944
- Colorado income tax$5,189
- Take-home pay$97,693
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Nurse Practitioner pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,890 | $46.10 | $72,778 | $6,065 |
| 25th percentile | $122,100 | $58.70 | $90,057 | $7,505 |
| Median (50th) | $134,040 | $64.44 | $97,693 | $8,141 |
| 75th percentile | $151,330 | $72.75 | $108,750 | $9,062 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,170 | $82.77 | $122,077 | $10,173 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $134,040 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median nurse practitioner's $97,693 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,353 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nurse Practitioner jobs are less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nurse practitioners, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #105 of 117 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $231,560 | $150,760 | $136,530 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $219,080 | $143,890 | $124,458 |
| 3 | Killeen, TX | $138,670 | $106,047 | $116,366 |
| 4 | Tulsa, OK | $139,460 | $100,857 | $113,050 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $130,390 | $100,388 | $110,765 |
| 6 | McAllen, TX | $122,550 | $95,029 | $110,634 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $144,060 | $109,731 | $109,496 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $166,570 | $111,690 | $109,330 |
| 105 | Denver, CO | $134,040 | $97,693 | $92,353 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 117 metros →
Nurse Practitioner salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $129,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make in Denver, CO?
The median nurse practitioner salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $134,040 a year, or about $64.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $122,100 and $151,330.
What is a nurse practitioner’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $134,040 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $97,693 a year ($8,141 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,189 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a nurse practitioner?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $132,300. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,353 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #105 of 117 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nurse practitioner afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median nurse practitioner’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $168,620
- Optometrist — $158,130
- Pharmacist — $157,890
- Veterinarian — $135,090
- Physician Assistant — $134,540
- Dental Hygienist — $113,760
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $108,410
- Occupational Therapist — $107,500
- Physical Therapist — $102,340