How Much Does an LPN Make in Colorado in 2026?

A typical LPN in Colorado earns about $35.52 per hour, or $73,880 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, monthly pay comes to roughly $6,157, and weekly pay comes to about $1,421. These numbers reflect typical pay across the state, before accounting for city, employer, or years of experience.

Colorado's typical LPN pay sits 15% above the national figure of $30.96 an hour ($64,400 a year), and the state ranks 14th out of 51 states and D.C. for LPN pay. About 4,920 LPNs work in Colorado, compared with 648,410 nationwide. That comparison offers useful context for LPNs weighing a move or a job change within the state or beyond it.

Entry-level LPN positions in Colorado typically offer around $24.43 an hour, or about $50,820 a year, according to the same May 2025 wage data. Pay generally moves toward the typical figure of $73,880 within the first several years on the job. New graduates often start in long-term care or home health settings before moving into hospitals or specialty clinics, where pay tends to run higher.

Experienced LPNs in Colorado often earn upwards of $38.37 an hour, or about $79,800 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $84,440. The spread between entry-level and top pay comes to $33,620 a year, one of the wider gaps among nursing occupations. Setting matters here: hospitals and outpatient clinics generally pay more than nursing homes, and pay in Denver or Boulder tends to outpace smaller towns.

Colorado LPN pay rose from $46,540 in 2015 to $73,880 in 2025, a gain of $27,340, or 59%, over the decade, according to the same wage data. That increase outpaced inflation for much of the period, particularly the jump between 2020 and 2025 as demand for nursing staff intensified. Pay climbed in every year of the decade, with no reported decline from one year to the next.

Nationally, LPN pay rose 49% over the same ten years, so Colorado's climb outpaced the national trend by ten percentage points. For someone considering LPN work in Colorado now, that decade of steady increases points to a profession where pay has moved up consistently, though nothing about the future is guaranteed. Anyone weighing a move to the state can look at this record alongside current city and employer figures.

Boulder pays LPNs the most in Colorado, with typical pay around $76,800 per year ($36.92 an hour), based on figures for the full Boulder metro area. That's about 4% higher than the state figure of $73,880. Denver, Aurora, and Centennial follow closely behind at $75,810 a year, keeping several of the state's highest-paying metro areas clustered along the Front Range.

Grand Junction pays the least among the state's largest cities, with typical LPN pay around $64,480 a year, a spread of $12,320 from Boulder at the top. Denver has the largest LPN workforce in the state, with about 2,700 LPNs, though its pay sits slightly below Boulder's. Cities with higher pay also tend to have a higher cost of living, so a bigger paycheck may not stretch as far.

Colorado's neighbors show a range of pay. Arizona pays LPNs slightly more, at $77,070 a year, about 4% above Colorado. Wyoming and Utah both pay less, around $63,460 and $63,230, roughly 14% below Colorado's figure, and New Mexico and Oklahoma pay less still. Nurses often can transfer or endorse an existing LPN license into a neighboring state rather than starting licensure over, which can simplify a move across state lines.

LPNs in Colorado typically earn $73,880 a year, or $35.52 an hour, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025), and pay has risen 59% over the past decade. Anyone pursuing LPN work in the state can check Colorado's board of nursing for licensing and registry requirements, and compare local figures for Denver, Boulder, or other Colorado cities before choosing where to apply.