What to Pay a Certified Nursing Assistant in Denver, CO (2026)
How to set your CNA pay range in Denver
Three pay positions, modeled against current Denver market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
CNA salary percentile distribution in Denver, CO
Where the Denver market actually sits for CNA base pay.
Most Denver employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($40,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $36,000 and a max of $46,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Colorado pay transparency compliance for CNA job postings
What you must post when hiring a CNA in Colorado.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pay range in job posting | 1+ Colorado employees or remote roles open to CO residents | $500–$10,000 per violation |
| Benefits summary in posting | All covered postings | $500–$10,000 per violation |
| Notify current employees of promotions | All covered employers | $500–$10,000 per violation |
For a CNA role in Denver, a compliant good-faith range looks like $36,000 to $46,000. Colorado requires a specific range — not a single number. A good-faith range is $36,000–$46,000 for this role.
Top CNA employers in Denver — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring CNAs in the Denver metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| HealthONE / HCA Mountain | Health system | $38K–$48K | Common ($2K–$4K) |
| Centura Health / CommonSpirit | Health system | $36K–$46K | Common ($2K–$4K) |
| UCHealth | Academic medical center | $40K–$50K | Sometimes |
| Brookdale Senior Living | SNF / assisted living | $32K–$42K | Very common ($2K–$4K) |
| Kaiser Permanente Colorado | Integrated health system | $38K–$48K | Sometimes |
CNA talent supply and hiring difficulty in Denver
How hard is it to fill a CNA role in Denver.
Denver CNA supply is stable — Colorado's mature pay transparency market makes range disparities visible, which has evened out competitive dynamics. HealthONE and Centura are the largest hospital CNA employers; SNF chains dominate volume.
Skill premiums CNA candidates command in Denver, CO
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual Spanish | +3–5% | High |
| Dementia / memory care | +5–7% | Very high |
| Hospice / palliative | +4–6% | High |
| Restorative + lift cert | +3–5% | High |
CNA total compensation in Denver — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for CNAs in Denver. "Prevalence" reflects share of Denver disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Denver Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $40,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +10–16% premium | ~76% |
| Sign-on bonus | $2,000–$4,000 | ~46% |
| Overtime opportunity | $4K–$9K annualized | ~86% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $2,500–$4,500/yr | ~36% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$48K–$56K | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
CNA pay by setting in Denver — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the CNA range splits by employer type in the Denver metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNF / LTC | $36,000 | $32K–$42K | High |
| Hospital | $44,000 | $40K–$50K | Moderate |
| Home health | $40,000 | $36K–$46K | High |
| Assisted living | $36,000 | $32K–$42K | Moderate |
| Hospice | $42,000 | $38K–$48K | Moderate |
CNA salary in Denver vs. other Colorado and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Denver | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO | $40,000 | — | Moderate |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $34,000 | −15.0% | Moderate |
| Phoenix–Mesa–Scottsdale, AZ | $39,000 | −2.5% | Moderate |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $52,000 | +30.0% | Tight |
| Colorado statewide | $38,000 | −5.0% | — |
| U.S. national | $38,200 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Certified Nursing Assistant in Denver, CO
Related CNA pay benchmarks — Colorado metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.