Nurse Practitioner Salary in Colorado (2026)
The average Nurse Practitioner in Colorado earns around $135,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $98,307/year ($8,192/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $98,307 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $8,192 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $3,781 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $47/hr |
Federal Tax | $21,134 |
State Tax | $5,232 |
FICA Taxes | $10,328 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 27.18% |
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Nurse Practitioner Salary Ranges in Colorado
Not all Nurse Practitioners earn the same — not even close
CO nurse practitioner roles split across academic-medical (UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital + Anschutz, Children's Hospital Colorado, plus CU School of Medicine partnership), regional hospital + ambulatory (Centura Health ~17 CO hospitals, HealthONE HCA, Boulder Community Health, Banner Health Northern Colorado), FPA solo-practice ownership (aesthetic NP at Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village medspas, PMHNP telepsych, direct-primary-care, IV therapy — all available since CO FPA 2010), federal (VA Eastern Colorado, IHS regional). CU College of Nursing (Aurora — top-15 US graduate nursing program), CSU Pueblo, UCCS Beth-El, Regis Loretto Heights produce the in-state APRN pipeline. CO joined NLC compact 2024 — multi-state RN mobility for telehealth NP work.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP, primary care)
$110,000-$130,000
UCHealth / Centura / HealthONE primary care + FPA solo · CO FPA since 2010
Acute Care NP (UCHealth / Children's)
$128,000-$155,000
ICU / cardiac / post-op · academic-medical premium · UCHealth + Children's Magnet
Adult-Gerontology AGNP
$118,000-$138,000
Ambulatory / specialty / hospitalist + outdoor-lifestyle CO patient base
Psych-Mental Health (PMHNP)
$128,000-$165,000
UCHealth + Centura + telepsych private FPA · CO mental health crisis-driven demand
Aesthetic NP (Botox / fillers / IV therapy)
$148,000-$275,000
Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village medspas · CO FPA solo since 2010 · revenue share
CRNA (Nurse Anesthetist)
$185,000-$275,000
UCHealth + Children's + Centura + HealthONE + ambulatory surgery centers
VA Eastern Colorado NP
$120,000-$160,000
VA Aurora + Cheyenne · GS-12/13 + Denver locality + FERS + PSLF
Mountain-Town / Rural CO NP
$118,000-$165,000
Vail / Aspen / Steamboat / Telluride medical centers · housing-stipend often included
Worth knowing: Colorado is a FULL PRACTICE AUTHORITY state for NPs (since 2010 — among the established FPA states with 14+ years of FPA infrastructure development). CO NPs operate independently with prescribing + diagnostic + treatment authority. Solo cash-pay primary care, aesthetic NP medspa ownership (Cherry Creek + Greenwood Village dense market), PMHNP telepsych, DPC clinics, IV therapy — all viable CO NP business models. UCHealth (largest CO healthcare system) + Children's Hospital Colorado (top-10 US pediatric hospital) anchor academic-medical NP market with CU College of Nursing partnership. Mountain-town markets (Vail, Aspen, Steamboat) hire NPs at premium with housing stipends. Colorado Board of Nursing licensure required.
Colorado NP — FPA since 2010, UCHealth + Children's premium, mountain-town stipend
FPA
CO Full Practice Authority since 2010 · 14+ years established · solo-clinic + aesthetic + telepsych independence
4.40%
CO flat state · no local · 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance
$185-275K
CRNA comp ceiling · UCHealth / Children's / Centura + ASCs
$148-275K
Aesthetic NP FPA solo · Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village medspas · revenue share
Most NP roles are -exempt under the professional exemption — UCHealth / Centura / HealthONE / Children's Colorado / VA staff NP positions are all exempt salaried. 's overtime deduction does not apply to standard NP comp. The CO market drivers: Full Practice Authority (since 2010, 14+ years established) enabling solo-clinic ownership, UCHealth + Children's Colorado academic-medical premium, mountain-town locum premium + housing stipend, NLC + APRN compact mobility (CO joined NLC 2024), CRNA $185-275K ceiling, density.
CO Full Practice Authority (since 2010) is structural differentiator — among the early FPA states with established infrastructure. Solo cash-pay primary care, aesthetic NP medspa, PMHNP telepsych, DPC, IV therapy all common CO NP business models. Cherry Creek + Greenwood Village aesthetic NP cluster among densest US medspa markets. Mountain-town telehealth (Vail / Aspen / Steamboat) plus on-site locum NP work at ski-resort medical centers ($118-165K + housing stipend).
Real numbers: a UCHealth acute care NP at $138K base — CO flat 4.40% × $138K = $6,070/year. Same comp in MD: $11,000/year combined. CO saves $4,930/year vs MD. Compared to MA: $6,900. CO saves $830/year vs MA. Compared to TN (0%, RPA): TN saves $6,070/year on state but TN cannot offer FPA solo-practice opportunity; CO FPA + 4.40% combination is unique among FPA states for retirement 0% estate. eligibility ($120-175K MSN / DNP federal balance forgiven after 10 years at UCHealth / Centura / Children's Colorado / VA) saves $80-150K lifetime debt.
Colorado for nurse practitioners — the honest take
CO NP practice clusters in three corridors. The Denver / Aurora corridor (UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital + Anschutz Medical Campus + Children's Hospital Colorado + Centura Health St. Anthony / Porter / Avista + HealthONE Swedish / Presbyterian-St. Luke's, plus Cherry Creek + Greenwood Village FPA aesthetic medspa cluster + Denver telepsych market) is the densest US NP market in the Mountain West. The Colorado Springs / Pueblo corridor (UCHealth Memorial + Centura Penrose-St. Francis + Children's Colorado Springs) anchors south Front Range. The Boulder / Fort Collins corridor (Boulder Community Health + UCHealth Poudre Valley + Banner McKee Northern Colorado) anchors north Front Range. Plus mountain-town markets (Vail Health, Aspen Valley, Steamboat Memorial, Telluride Medical) for locum + telehealth NP work.
CO FPA + UCHealth + Front Range outdoor lifestyle drives unique NP career arc. UCHealth acute NP at $138K + 4.40% CO state + FPA aesthetic side practice ($75-150K supplemental) creates dual-income NP career arc available only in FPA states (CO + AZ + MA + WA). Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village housing $625K-$1.2M for FPA aesthetic NP owners. Castle Rock / Parker / Highlands Ranch at $475-700K for hospital-track NP. Boulder $700K-$1.4M. Fort Collins $475-700K. Mountain-town locum housing typically employer-stipend ($1,500-3,500/month) given Vail/Aspen housing scarcity.
Most CO NPs retire in-state — CO's 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% on retirement income + low 0.55% property tax + Front Range outdoor lifestyle (skiing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing) makes CO among the more favorable Western US NP retirement structures. Common retirement patterns: stay in Denver suburbs / Boulder / Fort Collins, or migrate to mountain-town downvalley (Glenwood Springs, Basalt, Steamboat-area), or southern CO (Pueblo, Grand Junction). FPA solo-practice ownership lever extends into semi-retirement — many senior CO NPs maintain 2-3 day/week aesthetic or telepsych practice into 60s-70s.
How Colorado taxes work for nurse practitioners (and where the levers are)
CO charges flat 4.40% state income tax (since 2022). No local income tax statewide. For a UCHealth acute care NP at $138K: CO = 4.40% × $138K = $6,070/year. Same comp in MD: $11,000/year combined. CO saves $4,930/year vs MD. Compared to AZ (2.5% flat): AZ $3,450. AZ saves $2,620/year vs CO. Compared to TN (0%): TN saves $6,070/year. The flat 4.40% applies to all comp tiers — no surtax above any threshold (unlike MA's 4% Fair Share above $1M).
/ maxing is the central active-duty move. UCHealth as university-affiliated academic medical center may offer 403(b) + for combined $49,000/year pre-tax shelter — verify with HR. Centura + Children's Colorado offer 403(b) at $24,500/year + match. HealthONE (HCA) offers 401(k) + ESPP + RSU at corporate roles. At $138K CO NP + 24% federal + 4.40% CO marginal, maxing $24,500 saves $6,960/year combined federal + state.
for non-profit hospital NPs at UCHealth / Centura / Children's Colorado / Boulder Community Health / VA Eastern Colorado / IHS — 10 years tax-free MSN / DNP debt forgiveness. For an NP with $120-175K federal balance, 10 years at UCHealth or VA erases the entire balance vs the typical 25-year self-pay. Lifetime savings $80-150K — a far bigger lever than the CO-vs-AZ annual tax delta.
FPA solo-practice ownership (since 2010) is the unique CO structural lever among the early-FPA states. Aesthetic NP at Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village medspas, PMHNP telepsych, DPC, IV therapy — all viable. Annual practice income $148-385K achievable for established Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village aesthetic NP medspas. election + solo at $72K §415(c) cap + cash-balance plan = $200-400K/year pre-tax shelter for owner NPs at peak earning years. Mountain-town locum + telehealth NP work via NLC + APRN compact (CO joined NLC 2024) provides unique CO income lever.
- →CO FPA solo-practice ownership: aesthetic NP / PMHNP telepsych / DPC / IV therapy · FPA since 2010 (14+ years established) · $148-385K solo income tier
- →Mountain-town locum NP (Vail / Aspen / Steamboat / Telluride): $118-165K + housing stipend · uniquely CO among major US states
- → on $120-175K MSN / DNP federal balance: 10 years at UCHealth / Centura / Children's Colorado / VA = tax-free forgiveness · $80-150K lifetime savings
- →Max + at UCHealth (university-affiliated academic medical center) · combined $49K/year federal pre-tax shelter
- →Aesthetic NP at Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village medspa: $148-275K · CO FPA solo · dense US medspa market
- →NLC compact (CO joined 2024) + APRN compact (CO implementing): telehealth NP across multi-state · CO-resident benefit at flat 4.40%
- →Pursue PMHNP specialty: $128-165K + UCHealth + Centura + telepsych private FPA practice · CO mental health crisis-driven demand
- →Stay in CO for retirement: 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% + Front Range outdoor lifestyle
The Colorado NP career arc — RN to FPA solo / specialty / CRNA / mountain locum
Years 0-3 (post-MSN / DNP): $110-130K. RN background (BSN minimum, MSN required) + Colorado Board of Nursing APRN licensure + national certification. CU College of Nursing (Aurora — top-15 US graduate nursing program), CSU Pueblo, UCCS Beth-El, Regis Loretto Heights feed in-state pipeline. CO FPA grants full prescribing + diagnostic authority from licensure. Decision point: primary care (FNP, AGNP at $110-130K) vs acute care (ACNP at UCHealth / Children's $128-155K) vs psych (PMHNP $128-145K starting) vs CRNA pathway (27 months training, $185-275K) vs aesthetic FPA solo entry vs mountain-town locum (Vail / Aspen housing-stipend supplemental).
Years 3-10 (FPA-eligible / established practice + specialty): $118-185K depending on specialty. UCHealth ACNP $138-165K with academic-medical premium. PMHNP $138-185K with UCHealth + Centura + telepsych mix. CRNA $215-275K post-residency. Aesthetic NP $185-285K at established Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village medspas. Mountain-town locum + housing stipend $128-165K seasonal. Maxing + at UCHealth ($49K/year) is the peak active-duty lever; FPA solo ownership is the alternative track.
Years 10+ (senior NP / FPA-solo-owner / leadership / retirement): $135-385K depending on track. Senior PMHNP with FPA telepsych + private practice $185-285K. CRNA seniority $245-305K. Aesthetic NP with established Cherry Creek medspa $245-385K. VA Eastern Colorado at GS-14 step-10 reaches $145K + locality + FERS pension. Most CO NPs retire in-state — CO's 0% estate + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% + Front Range outdoor lifestyle is favorable.
Where Colorado NPs actually live
CO NP housing tracks employer + commute. UCHealth + Children's Colorado NPs in Aurora outer / Centennial / Highlands Ranch / Castle Rock / Parker. Aesthetic NP FPA practice owners in Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village / Highlands Ranch for medspa client base proximity. Boulder / Fort Collins NPs in respective counties. Mountain-town locum NPs in downvalley (Eagle / Avon / Glenwood Springs) or employer-stipend housing.
Aurora outer / Centennial / Highlands Ranch
$400-700K · 4.40% flat state · UCHealth Anschutz + Children's Colorado commute · top schools
Castle Rock / Parker (Douglas County)
$475-700K · 4.40% flat state · top US schools · UCHealth / Centura / HealthONE south Denver
Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village (Arapahoe)
$625K-$1.2M · 4.40% flat state · Aesthetic NP FPA solo · medspa client base
Boulder outer (Lafayette / Louisville)
$525-800K · 4.40% flat state · Boulder Community Health + UCHealth Boulder
Eagle / Avon / Glenwood Springs (Vail downvalley)
$425-700K · 4.40% flat state · Vail Health + Aspen Valley locum · downvalley residency
CO's Full Practice Authority (since 2010) + UCHealth + Children's Colorado + Cherry Creek aesthetic medspa cluster + mountain-town locum + 0% estate retirement structure + Front Range outdoor lifestyle make CO uniquely the Mountain West's most favorable NP market — combining FPA solo-practice opportunity with outdoor-lifestyle quality + favorable retirement structure.
Is this the right move?
Colorado NPs — who it's best for
Working in your favor
- +CO Full Practice Authority since 2010 · 14+ years established · solo-clinic + aesthetic + telepsych + DPC independence
- +UCHealth + Children's Hospital Colorado academic-medical premium · top-10 US pediatric hospital · CU School of Medicine partnership
- +CO 0% estate (since 2005) + 0% inheritance + flat 4.40% · saves $4,900/year active-duty + $480K-$1.6M estate exposure vs MA / MD
- +Aesthetic NP FPA solo at Cherry Creek / Greenwood Village medspas: $148-385K · dense US medspa market · CO FPA structural advantage
- +Mountain-town locum NP (Vail / Aspen / Steamboat / Telluride) + housing stipend · uniquely CO + Front Range outdoor lifestyle
Worth knowing before you sign
- −CO 4.40% state higher than AZ (2.5% FPA peer) · $2,600/year more than AZ at NP comp tier
- −CO does not formally conform to OBBBA
- −Cherry Creek / Boulder home tier $625K-$1.4M+ requires spouse-stack household for ownership
- −UCHealth + Children's Colorado + Centura non-union · limited collective bargaining for staff NP
- −Mountain-town housing extreme premium ($750K-$5M+) · most locum NPs use employer stipends or downvalley housing
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