CNA Salary in Colorado: What You’ll Actually Earn in 2026

The median annual wage for nursing assistants in Colorado is $40,250 per year ($19.35 per hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS CO Nurse Aides, May 2024 data). Job-board aggregators like ZipRecruiter track real-time postings and currently estimate the average at $43,884/year, higher than the BLS median, which reflects the broader labor market including rural and part-time positions. Either way, Colorado CNAs earn well above the national median of $38,200. Where you land in that range depends on three things: which part of Colorado you work in, what type of facility employs you, and how long you’ve been on the job.

What	Details
Median CNA salary (Colorado, BLS)	$40,250/year ($19.35/hour)
Average CNA salary (Colorado, ZipRecruiter)	$43,884/year ($21.10/hour)
Colorado vs. national median	+$2,050/year above national ($38,200)
Entry-level (25th percentile)	$35,800/year ($17.21/hour)
Experienced (75th percentile)	$49,400/year ($23.75/hour)
Top earners (90th percentile)	$58,359/year ($28.06/hour)
Highest-paying region	Denver metro ($45,000-$52,000/year)

Average CNA Salary in Colorado

The median CNA pay rate in Colorado is $19.35 per hour, or $40,250 per year for full-time work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES data, May 2024). ZipRecruiter’s real-time job-posting data estimates the average at $21.10/hour ($43,884/year), which skews higher because posted wages tend to reflect active hiring competition rather than the full labor market.

The state average is a useful starting point, but the actual range is wide. Here is where you fall depending on experience, region, and facility:

Percentile	Hourly Rate	Annual Salary
25th (entry-level)	$17.21	$35,800
50th (median)	$19.35	$40,250
75th (experienced)	$23.75	$49,400
90th (top earners)	$28.06	$58,359

That $22,559 spread between entry-level and top earners isn’t random. Where you fall in that range depends on where in Colorado you work, what type of facility employs you, and how long you’ve been on the job. The next two sections break down exactly where in that range you’re likely to land.

CNA Salary by Colorado Region

CNA pay in Colorado varies by as much as $7,000-$14,000 per year depending on your region. Denver metro CNAs typically earn $3,000-$7,000 more per year than CNAs in southern Colorado, but that gap narrows when you factor in cost of living.

Region	Avg. Hourly Rate	Avg. Annual Salary	vs. State Average
Denver metro	$22-$25/hr	$45,760-$52,000	+4% to +18%
Colorado Springs	$20-$23/hr	$41,600-$47,840	-5% to +9%
Fort Collins / Northern CO	$20-$22/hr	$41,600-$45,760	-5% to +4%
Pueblo / Southern CO	$18-$20/hr	$37,440-$41,600	-15% to -5%
Mountain / resort communities	$19-$24/hr	$39,520-$49,920	-10% to +14%

Regional figures are sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics by MSA (Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins) supplemented by current job-posting data. Where BLS does not publish a specific MSA, ranges are estimated from statewide BLS data adjusted by job-posting samples collected in Q1 2026. See “Where This Data Comes From” at the end of this article for full sourcing.

Denver Metro Area

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood has the highest concentration of healthcare employers in the state, and that competition for CNAs pushes wages up. Large hospital systems like UCHealth, Denver Health, and CommonSpirit Health anchor the pay scale. Programs like the Community College of Denver CNA program feed directly into this market, keeping a steady pipeline of new CNAs flowing to facilities that are actively hiring. Keep in mind: Denver’s cost of living runs about 14% above the national average according to BEA Regional Price Parities, so the higher nominal pay doesn’t always translate to more purchasing power.

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is the state’s second-largest metro and a growing healthcare market. Centura Health, CommonSpirit Health, and Memorial Hospital are the dominant employers. Pay runs slightly below Denver but the cost of living is also lower, making it a practical choice for CNAs who want metro-area facilities without metro-area rent. The CNA salary in Colorado Springs typically falls in the $20-$23/hr range, competitive with the state median.

Fort Collins and Northern Colorado

Fort Collins anchors a mid-range salary corridor with UCHealth’s Poudre Valley Hospital as the primary employer. Pay tracks close to the state average, and the university-town economy keeps housing costs moderate. If you’re exploring the northern corridor and thinking about advancing to LPN or RN later, programs at Front Range Community College are nearby, which makes Fort Collins a practical base for building a career ladder. CNA wages here typically land around $20-$22/hr.

Pueblo and Southern Colorado

Pueblo pays below the state average, with Parkview Medical Center as the dominant employer. The tradeoff is significantly lower housing costs. A $37,000-$40,000 salary in Pueblo can support a comparable lifestyle to a $44,000 salary in Denver. If you’re considering this region, don’t dismiss it based on the nominal pay figure alone. The cost-of-living section below runs the purchasing power math directly.

Mountain and Resort Communities

You might not expect resort towns to have strong CNA demand, but facilities in Vail, Aspen, Steamboat Springs, and the Breckenridge corridor face some of the most persistent staffing shortages in the state. Chronic understaffing drives pay premiums, particularly during ski season (November through April) when facility census peaks and recruiting from out-of-area becomes expensive. Some mountain facilities respond with housing stipends or staff housing to offset extreme local rental costs. If you’re open to the logistical challenges, the mountain corridor can offer pay that approaches or exceeds Denver metro rates, in a setting that draws CNAs who are willing to trade urban amenities for it.

Your region matters, but the type of facility you work in can shift your pay just as much.

CNA Pay by Facility Type in Colorado

The type of facility you work in affects your CNA pay as much as, and sometimes more than, your location. CNA wages in Colorado vary by as much as $8-$10 per hour depending on whether you’re in a hospital, a skilled nursing facility, home health, or a staffing agency.

Facility Type	Avg. Hourly Range	Avg. Annual Range	Key Considerations
Hospital	$21-$26/hr	$43,680-$54,080	Highest base pay; shift differentials common
Skilled nursing / LTC	$18-$22/hr	$37,440-$45,760	Most CNA positions; steady hours
Home health	$17-$21/hr	$35,360-$43,680	Flexible schedule; variable hours
Staffing agency / travel CNA	$22-$30+/hr	Contract-based	Highest hourly; few or no benefits

Reviewing CNA patient ratios by facility type will help you understand how staffing levels and daily workload differ between settings, which affects more than just your paycheck.

Hospitals tend to pay the highest base rates in Colorado, and they commonly add shift differentials of $1-$3 per hour for nights and $2-$4 per hour for weekends. Major systems like UCHealth and Denver Health are among the highest-paying employers in the state. Hospital CNA positions are also the most competitive to land, particularly in Denver.

Skilled nursing facilities and long-term care employ the largest share of Colorado CNAs. Pay is moderate and hours are consistent. Many facilities also offer tuition reimbursement for CNAs pursuing LPN or RN programs, a non-salary benefit worth factoring into your total compensation calculation.

Home health offers scheduling flexibility that many CNAs value. However, hours can be inconsistent, and you may not always get a full 40-hour week through an agency. Some Colorado home health agencies pay mileage reimbursement on top of hourly rates.

Staffing agencies pay the highest hourly rates among non-travel arrangements, but usually without health insurance, PTO, or retirement matching. For CNAs who can manage without employer benefits, agency work offers a significant pay premium. This arrangement is directly connected to the travel CNA topic covered next.

Beyond the Hourly Rate: What Benefits Are Worth

Hourly pay is only part of the picture. A typical full-benefits CNA position in Colorado includes employer-sponsored health insurance (worth approximately $5,000-$7,000/year in employer contributions), paid time off (worth $2,000-$4,000/year at your hourly rate), and sometimes retirement matching or tuition reimbursement ($3,000-$5,000/year).

That means a $22/hr hospital job with full benefits may be worth $28-$30/hr in total compensation, matching or exceeding a $28/hr agency contract with no benefits. CNAs working for state-run facilities (such as Colorado State Veterans Homes) or university health systems may also qualify for PERA, Colorado’s defined-benefit pension plan, which is significantly more valuable than a standard 401(k) match.

When comparing offers, add up: base rate + shift differentials + benefits value + any tuition reimbursement. That total is your real compensation.

Travel CNA Opportunities in Colorado

Travel CNA positions offer some of the highest hourly rates available to Colorado CNAs. A travel CNA takes short-term contracts, typically 8 to 13 weeks, at facilities experiencing staffing shortages, at significantly higher hourly rates than permanent staff earn. For CNAs who are comfortable with logistics and can tolerate some schedule uncertainty, travel CNA work in Colorado is a real path to substantially higher income.

Travel CNA contracts in Colorado typically pay $22-$30 per hour, and peak-season mountain community contracts sometimes exceed $30 per hour. These rates reflect the premium facilities pay to attract out-of-area workers on short notice. However, these rates often don’t include benefits. You’ll typically need to secure your own health insurance and cover your own housing unless the facility offers a stipend.

Colorado has several demand hotspots for travel CNAs. Mountain and resort communities face chronic shortages, especially during ski season when facility census climbs and local worker availability drops. Rural facilities in eastern Colorado use travel CNAs to fill persistent staffing gaps. Denver-area hospitals also bring in travel CNAs during flu season and other demand spikes.

One important caveat: most staffing agencies require at least one year of CNA experience before placing travel contracts. Travel CNA work isn’t a first job. It’s a premium tier for CNAs who already have solid floor experience. If you haven’t started the process yet, the Colorado CNA certification guide covers every step from training to testing.

How Colorado CNA Pay Compares to Cost of Living

A $40,250-$43,884 average salary looks different depending on where in Colorado you live. The same paycheck goes significantly further in Pueblo than in Denver, and understanding that difference is more useful than any single statewide average.

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (BEA RPP data, 2022), the Denver metro price level is approximately 14% above the national average, while Pueblo runs roughly 10% below. Colorado Springs falls in between at about 4% above the national average. Median rents reflect this gap: a one-bedroom apartment averages approximately $1,700/month in Denver, $1,200/month in Colorado Springs, and $900/month in Pueblo, based on Zillow Observed Rent Index data as of early 2026.

A CNA earning $42,000 in Denver has roughly the same real purchasing power as a CNA earning $35,000-$36,000 in Pueblo. Here is what that looks like in the single expense that matters most: rent.

Metric	Denver CNA	Colorado Springs CNA	Pueblo CNA
Average CNA salary	~$45,000	~$42,000	~$35,000
Average 1BR apartment rent	~$1,700/month	~$1,200/month	~$900/month
Annual rent cost	~$20,400	~$14,400	~$10,800
Rent as % of gross income	~45%	~34%	~31%
Estimated take-home after rent	~$24,600/year	~$27,600/year	~$24,200/year

Figures are gross salary minus rent. Actual take-home after taxes will be lower, but the proportional comparison holds. Sources: BLS wage data by MSA; Zillow Observed Rent Index, Q1 2026.

The take-home numbers tell the real story. Colorado Springs offers the best balance of pay and affordability among the three metros. A lower nominal salary in a lower-cost region can leave you with more disposable income than a higher salary in Denver, which is why comparing purchasing power, not just pay rates, should drive your decision about where to work.

Beyond salary, there are also meaningful reasons why becoming a CNA in Colorado makes sense as a career entry. The next section covers the concrete ways to push your pay higher from wherever you start.

How to Increase Your CNA Salary in Colorado

You have more control over your CNA pay in Colorado than the averages suggest. CNA pay doesn’t have to stay static. Between shift selection, certification add-ons, experience tenure, and advancement pathways, there are multiple levers available, and most of them work faster than waiting for a market-wide raise.

1. Work off-peak shifts. Night and weekend differentials in Colorado add $1-$4 per hour to your base rate. Over a full-time schedule, that’s $2,000-$8,300 more per year without changing employers or adding credentials.

2. Stack certifications. Colorado’s Qualified Medication Administration Person (QMAP) certification authorizes CNAs to administer medications in assisted living and residential care settings and typically adds $2-$4 per hour. Investing in CNA training and certification for specialized credentials is one of the highest-return uses of your time early in your career.

3. Gain experience. Most Colorado facilities increase CNA pay by $1-$2 per hour after the first year, and again near the three-year mark. Keeping your certification active through timely renewal is non-negotiable. Make sure you know how to renew your CNA license in Colorado before your renewal window opens.

4. Advance your credential. The CNA career path offers clear advancement with quantified salary jumps. Many facilities offer tuition reimbursement covering $3,000-$5,000 per year toward nursing school. Affordable training options like the Red Rocks Community College CNA program are good starting points for those who haven’t entered the field yet.

Role	Typical Colorado Salary	Credential Required
CNA (entry)	$35,800-$40,250	CNA certification
CNA (experienced + QMAP)	$43,884-$58,359	CNA + QMAP certification
LPN	$55,000-$65,000	LPN license (~1-year program)
RN (ADN)	$75,000-$90,000	RN license (~2-year program)

The salary jump from CNA to LPN alone is $12,000-$20,000 per year. That salary jump is the clearest financial case for advancing beyond CNA.