Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary in Denver
A nursing assistant in the Denver, CO area earns an estimated $45,220 a year ($21.74/hr) — about 7% above the U.S. average, with most between $39,870 and $50,530. City figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
Nursing Assistant (CNA) — Denver, CO
EstimatedMedian annual pay
$45,220
+7% vs nationalHourly
$21.74/hr
- Typical range
- $39,870–$50,530
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $55,620
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $36,320
- Newer nurses
Other nursing roles in Denver
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this metro.
What affects nursing assistant pay in Denver
Strong Front Range healthcare market. For a nursing assistant, local pay also reflects the concentration of major hospital systems and academic medical centers, union contracts, shift differentials, unit acuity, and how competitive staffing is. Nights, weekends, and critical-care specialties typically add to base pay. Use the calculator to estimate your own.
How this estimate was calculated
The Denver figure adjusts the national RN average of $42,260 for local pay levels — a factor of 1.07× (about 7% above the U.S. average). It is a starting point — not an official Denver 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 metro wage data is loaded, this number updates to a verified value automatically.
Use this metro estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for Denver, based on national pay and local cost of living until official metro 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 Denver make this page more precise over time.
Nursing Assistant salary in Denver — FAQ
- How much does a nursing assistant make in Denver?
- A nursing assistant in the Denver, CO area earns an estimated $45,220 a year — about $21.74 an hour, with most between $39,870 and $50,530. That's about 7% above the national average. This is an estimate based on the role's national pay and Denver's local pay level, not a guaranteed local wage.
- Is Denver a good place for nursing assistants?
- On pay, Denver runs about 7% above the national average for nursing assistants. Big-city wages are often offset by a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $45,220 against local housing and expenses.
- How does Denver nursing assistant pay compare to Colorado overall?
- Statewide, Colorado nursing assistants earn an estimated $44,370 a year, versus about $45,220 in Denver. Metro pay can run above or below the state figure depending on hospital concentration and local demand.
- 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 × metro wage index)
Denver, CO figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a metro adjustment of 1.07×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national nursing assistant pay adjusted for Denver. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.