Registered Nurse Salary in Boulder, CO
Registered Nurses in the Boulder, CO metro area earn a median $103,290 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $77,658 take-home, or $6,472 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Boulder, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,894
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,404
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,498
- Colorado income tax$3,836
- Take-home pay$77,658
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Boulder, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,530 | $40.64 | $65,286 | $5,440 |
| 25th percentile | $89,760 | $43.15 | $68,735 | $5,728 |
| Median (50th) | $103,290 | $49.66 | $77,658 | $6,472 |
| 75th percentile | $110,430 | $53.09 | $82,367 | $6,864 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,260 | $61.66 | $93,997 | $7,833 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,290 buys in Boulder, CO
Prices in Boulder, CO are 5.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.57× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $77,658 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,818 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are less concentrated in Boulder, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Boulder, CO ranks #141 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 141 | Boulder, CO | $103,290 | $77,658 | $73,818 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Pueblo, CO — $95,720
- Grand Junction, CO — $95,990
- Greeley, CO — $96,300
- Colorado Springs, CO — $96,140
- Denver, CO — $101,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Boulder, CO?
The median registered nurse salary in the Boulder, CO metro area is $103,290 a year, or about $49.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $89,760 and $110,430.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Boulder, CO?
On the median $103,290 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $77,658 a year ($6,472 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,836 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Boulder, CO a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 5.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,818 would in a typical U.S. city. Boulder, CO ranks #141 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Boulder, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boulder, CO is $1,795 a month ($2,124 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boulder, CO
- Physical Therapist — $102,430