Nurse Practitioner Salary in Colorado: $132,930 Median (May 2025)
Part of Nursing in Colorado — schools, RN and NP pay, and licensing on one page.
Nurse practitioners in Colorado earn a median of $132,930 per year — $63.91 an hour — $630 above the national NP median of $132,300, ranking #20 of 51 states and D.C. The middle 80% of Colorado NPs earn between $87,770 and $170,310. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the federal wage survey, not job-board self-reports.
Colorado NP pay range (May 2025)
Dark band = middle 50% of Colorado NPs (25th–75th percentile). Light band = middle 80%. New NPs typically start near the left edge.
NP vs RN Pay in Colorado
The median NP in Colorado out-earns the median RN by $32,670 per year (33%). Same state, same license underneath — the difference is the graduate degree and the scope that comes with it.
Compare Colorado With Any State
Weighing a move, telehealth, or a compact-state license? Put Colorado side by side with any other NP market.
| May 2025 BLS | Colorado | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $132,930 | $131,670 |
| Median hourly wage | $63.91/hr | $63.31/hr |
| Entry-level range (10th pct) | $87,770 | $96,880 |
| Experienced (75th pct) | $150,990 | $147,660 |
| Top earners (90th pct) | $170,310 | $161,980 |
| NPs employed | 4,270 | 25,970 |
The NP path starts with an RN license
Every NP passed the NCLEX first. If you’re earlier on the ladder: compare Colorado’s board-approved nursing programs by real first-time pass rates, and see the full earning ladder from CNA to CRNA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nurse practitioners make in Colorado?
NPs in Colorado earn a median of $132,930 per year — $63.91 per hour — $630 above the national NP median of $132,300 (BLS May 2025). That ranks Colorado #20 of 51 states and D.C. by median NP pay.
How much more do NPs make than RNs in Colorado?
The median NP in Colorado earns $132,930 versus $100,260 for the median RN — a difference of $32,670 per year (33%). The step up requires a master's or doctoral NP program on top of the RN license.
What is a starting NP salary in Colorado?
New NPs generally start near the lower percentiles: in Colorado, the 10th percentile is $87,770 and the 25th percentile is $118,410. Most NPs move toward the $132,930 median within their first several years of practice.
How many nurse practitioners work in Colorado?
4,270 nurse practitioners are employed in Colorado per the BLS May 2025 estimates.
NP salary in other states
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