Correctional Nurse salary in Colorado
A correctional nurse in Colorado earns an estimated $104,480 a year ($50.23/hr) — about 5% above the U.S. average, with most between $86,030 and $120,330. State figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
Correctional Nurse — Colorado
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$104,480
+5% vs nationalHourly
$50.23/hr
- Typical range
- $86,030–$120,330
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $147,230
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $73,830
- Newer nurses
Correctional Nurse pay by city in Colorado
Estimated pay in the state's largest metro areas.
| City | Est. annual | Est. hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | $106,470 | $51.19 |
| Colorado Springs | $99,500 | $47.84 |
Correctional Nurse pay in nearby-paying states
How Colorado compares to states with similar correctional nurse pay.
Other nursing roles in Colorado
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this state.
What affects correctional nurse pay in Colorado
Pay above the national median; strong Denver market. For a correctional nurse specifically, pay is shaped by the metro labor market, hospital vs clinic vs long-term-care setting, union presence, shift differentials, unit acuity, and years of experience. Certifications and a move into charge or advanced-practice roles raise pay further. Use the calculator to estimate your own.
How this estimate was calculated
The Colorado figure adjusts the national RN average of $99,500 for local pay levels — a factor of 1.05× (about 5% above the U.S. average). It is a starting point — not an official Colorado wage — until verified local figures and nurse submissions are loaded.
Local pay can vary well beyond this by specialty, shift, union status, employer type, overtime, and care setting. When official state wage data is loaded, this number updates to a verified value automatically.
Use this state estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for Colorado, based on national pay and local cost of living until official state data is loaded — not a guaranteed local wage.
- Your actual pay shifts with role and specialty, care setting, shift, overtime, union status, and years of experience — so compare a role-specific page and personalize the calculator.
- Reviewed salary submissions from nurses in Colorado make this page more precise over time.
Correctional Nurse salary in Colorado — FAQ
- How much does a correctional nurse make in Colorado?
- A correctional nurse in Colorado earns an estimated $104,480 a year — about $50.23 an hour, with most between $86,030 and $120,330. That's about 5% above the national average. This is an estimate based on national pay for the role and Colorado's local pay level, not a guaranteed local wage.
- Is Colorado a good state for correctional nurses?
- For pay, Colorado sits about 5% above the national average for correctional nurses. A higher number often comes with a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $104,480 against local housing and expenses rather than the headline figure alone.
- Which city in Colorado pays correctional nurses the most?
- Among Colorado metros we track, Denver tends to have the highest estimated pay for correctional nurses, at roughly $106,470 a year. City figures are estimates based on the role's national pay and local cost of living.
- How does Colorado correctional nurse pay compare to the national average?
- The national estimate for a correctional nurse is about $99,500 a year, versus an estimated $104,480 in Colorado — about 5% above the national average. Use the calculator to factor in your experience, specialty, and shift.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)
Colorado figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.05×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national correctional nurse pay adjusted for Colorado. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.