Do nurse managers or nurse practitioners earn more in Colorado?

In Colorado, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $132,930 a year versus $130,340 for nurse managers, a gap of about $2,590 (roughly 2% more). One figure is a median reported for Colorado in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.

How much is the nurse manager vs nurse practitioner pay gap in Colorado?

The estimated gap in Colorado is about $2,590 a year, or roughly 2% more for nurse practitioners. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Colorado figures exact?

Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Colorado pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

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.

Colorado · CO

Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner salary in Colorado

In Colorado, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $132,930 a year versus $130,340 for nurse managers, a gap of about $2,590 (roughly 2% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Colorado.

Nurse Manager — Colorado

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$130,340

+3% vs national

Hourly

$62.66/hr

Median $130,340

$103,350Middle 50%: $109,970–$141,610$162,420

Typical range: $109,970–$141,610; What most nurses earn
High end: $162,420; Top earners
Entry level: $103,350; Newer nurses

Nurse Practitioner — Colorado

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$132,930

At national

Hourly

$63.91/hr

Median $132,930

$87,770Middle 50%: $118,410–$150,990$170,310

Typical range: $118,410–$150,990; What most nurses earn
High end: $170,310; Top earners
Entry level: $87,770; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Colorado

Nurse manager and nurse practitioner pay lands in a similar range, but the roles diverge sharply. The NP is a clinical advanced-practice provider who diagnoses and prescribes; the nurse manager is a leadership role running a unit's staffing, budget, and operations. Which pays more depends heavily on setting, region, and seniority. The Colorado figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Colorado's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner comparison or personalize the calculator.

Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner in Colorado — FAQ

Do nurse managers or nurse practitioners earn more in Colorado?: In Colorado, nurse practitioners earn more — an estimated $132,930 a year versus $130,340 for nurse managers, a gap of about $2,590 (roughly 2% more). One figure is a median reported for Colorado in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.
How much is the nurse manager vs nurse practitioner pay gap in Colorado?: The estimated gap in Colorado is about $2,590 a year, or roughly 2% more for nurse practitioners. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Colorado figures exact?: Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Colorado pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
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 specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report Nurse Manager separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Colorado (May 2025) and applies a 1.30× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Colorado. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.