During the 1960s, Colorado was the first state to define the role of nurse practitioners. In Colorado, after passing the national nurse practitioner certification exam, nurse practitioners are able to assess, diagnose and treat patients.
Before being allowed to write prescriptions, nurse practitioners must have either three years of clinical experience or complete a 1,000-hour preceptorship under the supervision of a doctor.
In this article, we will examine the salaries of nurse practitioners in Colorado. Additionally, we will examine nurse practitioners’ salaries in Colorado’s different cities, experience-based salaries, and the average nurse practitioner salary relative to other careers.
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Starting Salary
In Colorado, nurse practitioners who are just beginning their careers can expect to make $78,230 per year. That breaks down to $6,140 a month or $37.61 an hour. Entry-level is generally considered the first year working as a nurse practitioner.
Entry-level salaries are considerably lower than for those with more experience. This is due to a number of actors.
The best nurse practitioner programs in Colorado introduce students to the critical thinking skills and practical experience they will use throughout their careers, however, they have not had enough time to develop these skills. They must practice what they have learned for several months before it becomes familiar.
The new nurse practitioner won’t be able to take on a full patient load at that time, and they’ll probably need mentorship from an experienced nurse practitioner.
Entry-level nurse practitioners in Colorado are paid lower salaries, which offset some of the training and orientation costs.
| Hourly | $37.61 |
| Monthly | $6,140 |
| Yearly | $78,230 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Average Salary
The salary of a nurse practitioner in Colorado is determined by a variety of factors. Along with location, specialty, and type of practice, nurses’ salaries are influenced by many other factors, including experience, shift differentials, and degrees and certification.
On average, nurse practitioners in Colorado make $112,580 per year. This equates to $9,380 per month and $54.13 per hour. Most nurse practitioners hit this salary amount toward the end of their fourth year of practice.
Nurse practitioners in states that allow full practice authority tend to earn higher average salaries than those in states where practice authority is restricted.
Colorado nurse practitioners have full practice authority upon passing their certification exam, but they do not have full prescriptive authority at first. This limits their autonomy.
Since they are required to complete a mentorship and preceptorship with a supervising doctor, the doctor can request compensation for their time and oversight of providing these services.
These out-of-pocket costs can explain, in part, why a nurse practitioner in Colorado makes an average of 4 percent less than the national average.
| Hourly | $54.13 |
| Monthly | $9,380 |
| Yearly | $112,580 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Salary By Years of Experience
Experience is correlated with higher salaries. Nurse practitioners gain valuable skills over the course of their careers. Nurse practitioners become more efficient as their clinical skills and judgment improve with experience.
It is impossible to teach experience gained through years of on-the-job skills and decision-making.
Therefore, nurses with more experience are worth more, so their salaries will be higher. When evaluating nurse practitioner salaries, experience is an important factor to consider.
Colorado nurse practitioners that have been working for one to four years can expect their salaries to be 25% higher than those that are just starting out (with less than 1 year of experience).
Once they have been working as a nurse practitioner for five to nine years, they can expect their pay to be 20 percent higher than those with one to four years of experience as a nurse practitioner.
Those with 10-19 years of experience can expect their salary to be almost 75% higher than when they first started their career as a nurse practitioner. The salary of those with over 20 years of experience is almost twice as much as those that are just starting out.
| # of Years of Experience | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
| Less than 1 | $37.61 | $6,520 | $78,230 |
| 1-4 | $48.02 | $8,320 | $99,880 |
| 5-9 | $49.22 | $8,530 | $102,370 |
| 10-19 | $61.71 | $10,700 | $128,360 |
| 20+ | $63.45 | $11,000 | $131,970 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Compensation and Benefits
Pay plays a crucial role in choice of career path and place of employment. Benefits and other compensation should be taken into consideration as well. Compensation and benefits can also be negotiated.
When considering the advantages of where to work, it is a factor to keep in mind. Comparing benefit packages is an important consideration.
Companies don’t use salaries as the only means of attracting employees. Employers also provide non-cash compensation, known as benefits, to their employees.
Benefits for Colorado nurse practitioners working in the private sector are worth an average of $47,604, or 42 percent of average salary.
Colorado nurse practitioners employed by the state or local government receive benefits worth $68,598, or 62 percent of their average salary.
| Benefit/Compensation | Private Sector | Federal, State, and Local Government |
| Paid Time Off | $11,861 | $13,684 |
| Compensatory Pay | $5,610 | $1,800 |
| Insurance (Health, Dental, Vision, Life) | $12,502 | $21,066 |
| Retirement and Pension | $5,450 | $22,326 |
| Required By Law | $12,182 | $9,903 |
| Total Benefits | $47,604 | $68,598 |
| Average Yearly Salary | $112,680 | $111,450 |
| Total Compensation | $160,284 | $180,048 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Practice Setting Salary
Nurse practitioner salaries are also affected by the practice setting. There are numerous reasons for this difference, including work hours, operational costs, and the risks associated with the various settings.
In hospitals, for example, the shifts are generally not as attractive (working holidays, nights, weekends, etc.).
This means that nurse practitioners will generally be paid more since shifts are not as attractive as an office job where you do not have to work holiday shifts.
In Colorado, nurse practitioners working in hospitals make an average of $117,270 per year, or $56.39 per hour.
However, nurse practitioners who work in an area with more appealing hours will earn about $105,750 a year, or $50.85 per hour.
There are about 3,080 nurse practitioners in Colorado. Almost 50 percent of them work in private doctors’ offices. Nurse practitioners working in these offices make 5 percent less than those working in hospitals.
They make 10 percent less than those working in outpatient facilities.
| Practice Setting Type | Hourly | Yearly |
| Outpatient Facilities | $59.24 | $123,210 |
| Hospitals | $56.39 | $117,270 |
| Other Healthcare Provider Offices | $49.93 | $103,850 |
| Doctor’s Offices | $52.68 | $109,560 |
| Colleges and Universities | $50.85 | $105,750 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Speciality Salary
Adult Gerontology-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
- Employed primarily in the emergency rooms and intensive care units associated with the state’s largest medical centers in the largest and main cities throughout the state
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, adult gerontology-acute care nurse practitioners were frontline providers of care in Colorado
- In Colorado, the average adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner salary is $54.80 an hour or $113,990 a year, which is 1 percent less than the average nurse practitioner salary in Colorado for all nurse practitioner specialties
| Hourly | $54.80 |
| Yearly | $113,990 |
Adult Gerontology-Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGNP)
- Employed primarily in doctor’s offices in rural and urban settings, as well as in community clinics
- Provides services associated with primary care, such as treatment of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries, wellness promotion, patient education, and other preventive measures
- They do not provide services to children or adolescents younger than 18 years old, which distinguishes them from family nurse practitioners
- In Colorado, the average adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner salary is $51.82 an hour or $107,790 annually, which is 5 percent less than the average salary of those who specialize in acute care
| Hourly | $51.82 |
| Yearly | $107,790 |
Dermatology Nurse Practitioner
- Employed primarily in cosmetic surgeon’s practices, dermatologists’ offices, and medical spas located in affluent ski resorts throughout cities in Colorado
- Generally nurse practitioners who’ve graduated with an adult gerontology-primary care nurse practice specialty or a family nurse practice specialty and have undergone on-the-job clinical dermatology training
- Specialize in skin diseases and cosmological procedures
- In Colorado, dermatology nurse practitioners make $54.05 an hour or $112,420 per year
| Hourly | $54.05 |
| Yearly | $112,420 |
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- These nurse practitioners are experts in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of health conditions throughout all stages of life
- Account for seventy-one percent of Colorado’s nurse practitioners
- In many states throughout the United States, including Colorado, family nurse practitioners have one of the lowest-paying nurse practitioner specialties, which may because it’s the most common nurse practitioner speciality
- The average family nurse practitioner salary in Colorado is $53.76 per hour or $111,810 per year, which is 1 percent less than the average salary across the state
| Hourly | $53.76 |
| Yearly | $111,810 |
Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP)
- Nurse practitioners in this field work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a hospital with critically ill babies
- Account for nine percent of Colorado’s nurse practitioners
- Neonatal nurse practitioners are the highest-paid nurse practitioners in Colorado
- The average neonatal nurse practitioner salary in Colorado is $57.71 per hour or $120,030 per year, which is 6 percent more than the average nurse practitioner salary in Colorado for all specialties of nurse practitioners
| Hourly | $57.71 |
| Yearly | $120,030 |
Pediatric-Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (P-ACNP)
- Employed in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and trauma centers in specialized children’s hospitals
- Have specialized training and expertise in identifying and treating a range of severe acute illnesses in patients under the age of 18
- Colorado’s pediatric-acute care nurse practitioners make $56.23 an hour or $116,970 a year, which is 3 percent more than the average salary of a nurse practitioner in Colorado across all specialties
| Hourly | $56.23 |
| Yearly | $116,970 |
Pediatric-Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Employed in pediatric officers, urgent care clinics, schools, and hospitals
- Care for patients under the age of 18
- Provide primary healthcare for children, including vaccinations, wellness examinations, and diagnosing and treating illnesses
- Occasionally, they provide care for adults with chronic conditions that were first diagnosed in childhood
- The average pediatric-primary care nurse practitioner salary in Colorado is $52.07 per hour or $108,300 per year, which is 4 percent less than the average nurse practitioner salary in Colorado for all specialties of nurse practitioners
| Hourly | $52.07 |
| Annual | $108,300 |
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- These nurse practitioners have extensive training and experience assessing, diagnosing, managing, and treating patients who are suffering from mental health conditions or substance abuse problems
- Account for five percent of Colorado’s nurse practitioners
- The average psychiatric nurse practitioner salary in Colorado is $56.61 per hour or $117,750 per year, which is 4 percent more than the average salary for Colorado across all specialties of nurse practitioners
| Hourly | $56.61 |
| Yearly | $117,750 |
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Employed primarily in community clinics and the practices of OB/GYN doctor
- Specialize in the healthcare needs of women throughout their lives
- Account for thirteen percent of Colorado’s nurse practitioners
- On average they earn $108,300 per year or $52.07 per hour, which is 4 percent less than the average nurse practitioner salary in Colorado across all specialties or nurse practitioners
| Hourly | $52.07 |
| Yearly | $108,300 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Salary By City
Colorado Springs
Residents of Colorado Springs and surrounding El Paso County have higher life expectancies than the U.S. average; fewer residents with chronic conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes; and better access to primary care.
Colorado Springs also has the lowest obesity rate of any major metropolitan area in the U.S.
The area is served by a number of hospitals, including Cedar Springs Hospital, UC Health Grandview Hospital, and UC Health Memorial Hospital.
The average salary of a nurse practitioner in Colorado Springs, CO, is $51.47 an hour or $107,070 a year.
| Hourly | $51.47 |
| Yearly | $107,070 |
Denver
- Colorado’s largest city
- Home to thirteen percent of Colorado’s population
- A variety of health concerns, such as higher infant mortality rates and shorter life expectancy related to almost fifteen percent of Denver residents living in poverty
- Major hospitals in Denver include SCL Health Good Samaritan Medical Center, SCL Health Saint Joseph Hospital, and UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
- The average nurse practitioner in Denver makes $115,560 a year or $55.56 an hour
| Hourly | $55.56 |
| Yearly | $115,560 |
Fort Collins
- One of the healthiest cities in the nation
- Lower incidences of high blood pressure and obesity than most cities in the United States
- In the country, it has the third-lowest rate of diabetes of any major metropolitan area
- Healthcare costs here are lower on average
- The average nurse practitioner in Fort Collins makes $112,680 per year or $54.17 per hour
| Hourly | $54.17 |
| Yearly | $112,680 |
Greeley
- An agricultural city that borders Wyoming
- Increased risk for airborne cancer due to pesticide residue in the air and water
- The city has a heightened airborne cancer risk because of pesticide residues in its air and water
- The average nurse practitioner in Greeley makes $103,200 per year or $49.61 per hour, which is 11 percent less than the average nurse practitioner salary throughout the state of Colorado
| Hourly | $49.61 |
| Yearly | $103,200 |
Pueblo
- One of the largest steel-producing cities in the United States
- Environmental toxins are much more prevalent here than in other Colorado cities
- Higher obesity rates than in other parts of the state
- Higher incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions associated with obesity
- The average nurse practitioner salary in Pueblo is $114,380 per year or $54.99 per hour, which is 5 percent lower than the average nurse practitioner salary throughout the state
| Hourly | $54.99 |
| Yearly | $114,380 |
Top Five Paid Cities For Alabama Nurse Practitioners
The top five cities throughout Colorado where nurse practitioners earn the highest salaries are:
- Grand Junction ($110,250)
- Fort Collins ($112,680)
- Pueblo ($114,380)
- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood ($115,560)
- Boulder ($118,180)
| Rank | City | Average Yearly Salary |
| 1 | Boulder | $118,180 |
| 2 | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood | $115,560 |
| 3 | Pueblo | $114,380 |
| 4 | Fort Collins | $112,680 |
| 5 | Grand Junction | $110,250 |
Alabama Nurse Practitioner Salaries By Metro Area
Almost half of Colorado’s nurse practitioners work in the greater Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metro area. In this metro area, they make an average of $112,590 per year or $54.13 per hour.
Nurse practitioners employed in Pueblo make an average of $97,279 per year or $46.76 per hour.
Nurse practitioners working in Boulder make an average of $120,500 per year or $57.93 per hour.
| Metro Area | # of Employees | Hourly | Yearly |
| Boulder | 190 | $56.82 | $118,180 |
| Colorado Springs | 430 | $51.47 | $107,070 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood | 2,010 | $55.56 | $115,560 |
| Fort Collins | 200 | $54.17 | $112,680 |
| Grand Junction | 120 | $53.01 | $110,250 |
| Greeley | 60 | $49.61 | $103,200 |
| Pueblo | 140 | $54.99 | $114,380 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Salary Compared To Other Nursing Careers
In Colorado, nurse practitioners earn on average more than nurses in practically every other nursing career path. Nurse practitioners in Colorado can expect an average salary 41 percent higher than registered nurses without a graduate degree.
Nurse practitioners in Colorado can expect an average salary more than twice as much as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs).
However, they can expect to make 38 percent less than certified registered nurse anesthetists.
When one considers the time and the financial commitment they have to make in order to complete their schooling, one can determine that they are compensated considerably more for the effort they put into it.
| Occupation | Average Yearly Salary |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $173,820 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) | $122,620 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $112,580 |
| Nursing School Professor/Educator | $82,850 |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | $80,670 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)/Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | $55,360 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $35,210 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Salary Compared To Other Healthcare Careers
Compared to dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and pharmacists, nurse practitioners in Colorado make significantly less money.
This lower pay in comparison may be due to the fact that most nurse practitioners currently practicing in Colorado are graduates of Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs while these higher paid healthcare professionals are graduates of four-year doctoral programs.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), in 2004, recommended that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree become the terminal degree for all nurse practitioners.
It’s very likely that nurse practitioner salaries will go up if this takes place.
Dentists in Colorado are at the higher end of the healthcare professionals at $184,550 per year on average. At the lower end of the spectrum among healthcare professionals in Colorado, chiropractors make $75,670 per year on average.
We can see that nurse practitioners are basically above the middle of healthcare professionals in Colorado, with a yearly salary average of $112,580.
| Occupation | Average Yearly Salary |
| Dentist | $184,550 |
| Podiatrist | $161,250 |
| Optometrist | $125,040 |
| Pharmacist | $125,040 |
| Physician Assistant (PA) | $119,380 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $112,580 |
| Veterinarian | $98,690 |
| Speech Therapist | $93,460 |
| Occupational Therapist (OT) | $93,250 |
| Audiologist | $93,160 |
| Physical Therapist (PT) | $89,870 |
| Chiropractor | $75,670 |
Colorado Nurse Practitioner Future
The shortage of primary care providers in Colorado may not be as severe as it is in many other states, but the unavailability of these services continues to present a threat to the lives of residents.
Despite the fact that most of Colorado’s residents live in urban centers, more than 700,000 live in rural or frontier counties that face a lack of primary care providers.
It is estimated that Colorado, by 2030, will need an additional almost 1,800 primary healthcare providers in order for its primary care utilization rate to remain the same.
Considering that Colorado’s nurse practitioners have full practice authority, they are prepared to meet this demand both legally as well as educationally.
There is usually a correlation between high demand for services and a willingness to pay more for them. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect the salary of a nurse practitioner will continue to rise in Colorado.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed several factors to consider when determining the salary of a nurse practitioner. As a nurse practitioner in Colorado, you have a variety of options to pick from when making this beautiful state your home.
It may be worth considering Colorado as a potential location for nurse practitioners. You will have a positive impact on many people’s lives as a nurse practitioner.
When you feel burned out, there are a multitude of nurse practitioner specialties and subspecialties that will provide you with different ways to challenge yourself.
Written by Joanne Potter BSN, RN
Joanne, BSN, RN, is a writer that specializes in health and wellness. She has fifteen years of experience as a Registered Nurse in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Her years working on the frontlines at the bedside enable her to write with a deep understanding of what patients want from their communities. Visit her LinkedIn page.
Sources:
Livability
SalaryExpert May 2022
Healthgrades
careeronestop
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
