Are these Colorado figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Colorado wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Colorado's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.

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

Registered Nurse vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist salary in Colorado

In Colorado, certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more — an estimated $248,420 a year versus $102,430 for registered nurses, a gap of about $145,990 (roughly 143% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Colorado.

Registered Nurse — Colorado

Estimated

Median annual pay

$102,430

+5% vs national

Hourly

$49.25/hr

Median $102,430

$72,390Middle 50%: $84,350–$117,970$144,340

Typical range: $84,350–$117,970; What most nurses earn
High end: $144,340; Top earners
Entry level: $72,390; Newer nurses

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist — Colorado

Estimated

Median annual pay

$248,420

+5% vs national

Hourly

$119.43/hr

Median $248,420

$163,010Middle 50%: $217,070–$309,070$356,480

Typical range: $217,070–$309,070; What most nurses earn
High end: $356,480; Top earners
Entry level: $163,010; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Colorado

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists earn far more than staff registered nurses — one of the largest pay gaps in nursing. CRNA is a doctoral advanced-practice role that administers anesthesia with a high degree of autonomy, while the RN is the baseline nursing license. The gap reflects years of additional graduate education, critical-care experience, and scope. 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 Registered Nurse vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist comparison or personalize the calculator.

Registered Nurse vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in Colorado — FAQ

Do registered nurses or certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more in Colorado?: In Colorado, certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more — an estimated $248,420 a year versus $102,430 for registered nurses, a gap of about $145,990 (roughly 143% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Colorado's local pay level.
How much is the registered nurse vs certified registered nurse anesthetist pay gap in Colorado?: The estimated gap in Colorado is about $145,990 a year, or roughly 143% more for certified registered nurse anesthetists. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Colorado figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Colorado wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Colorado's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
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 based on national nurse pay and local cost of living. 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 figures for Colorado. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.