Registered Nurse Salary in Denver, CO
Registered Nurses in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $101,130 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,234 take-home, or $6,353 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,419
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,270
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,466
- Colorado income tax$3,741
- Take-home pay$76,234
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,210 | $39.04 | $63,096 | $5,258 |
| 25th percentile | $85,390 | $41.05 | $65,853 | $5,488 |
| Median (50th) | $101,130 | $48.62 | $76,234 | $6,353 |
| 75th percentile | $109,760 | $52.77 | $81,925 | $6,827 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,870 | $60.51 | $92,468 | $7,706 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,130 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 registered nurse's $76,234 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,067 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 about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #193 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 |
| 193 | Denver, CO | $101,130 | $76,234 | $72,067 |
*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
- Boulder, CO — $103,290
- Greeley, CO — $96,300
- Colorado Springs, CO — $96,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Denver, CO?
The median registered nurse salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $101,130 a year, or about $48.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,390 and $109,760.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $101,130 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $76,234 a year ($6,353 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,741 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,067 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #193 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 28% of a median registered nurse’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
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,040
- Dental Hygienist — $113,760
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $108,410
- Occupational Therapist — $107,500