How Much Does a CNA Make in Colorado in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Colorado, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Colorado · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Colorado earns about $22.78 per hour ($47,380 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That figure sits 12% above the national figure of $42,260 a year. Colorado ranks 7th out of 51 states for CNA pay, and the state employs roughly 22,240 nursing assistants, giving a sense of how large the workforce is here.
How much does a CNA make in Colorado?
CNA pay by career stage in Colorado
| Career stage | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,690$18.60 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $44,550$21.42 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $47,380$22.78 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $49,920$24.00 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $56,070$26.96 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Colorado
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Colorado · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Colorado CNA pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $28,710 in 2015 to $47,380 in 2025, a 65% increase, or about $18,670 more per year than a decade ago. That outpaces the national decade rise of 64% over the same stretch. Pay in this field has been moving upward every year since 2015, with no sign of leveling off, though that trend is not a promise of what happens next for someone starting out today.
CNA salary by city in Colorado
Pay runs highest in the Boulder metro area, where CNAs typically earn $49,860 a year. The Denver metro area, which includes Aurora and Centennial, follows closely at $49,110, while Grand Junction sits at the low end of the state's listed cities at $44,980. That's a spread of $4,880 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas listed here. Cities with a higher cost of living tend to pay more, simply to help cover local expenses.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Colorado | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $49,860 | $23.97 | +5% | 1,030 |
| 2 | Denver metro incl. Aurora · Centennial | $49,110 | $23.61 | +4% | 10,350 |
| 3 | Greeley | $46,670 | $22.44 | -1% | 700 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs | $46,120 | $22.17 | -3% | 4,910 |
| 5 | Fort Collins metro incl. Loveland | $45,970 | $22.10 | -3% | — |
| 6 | Pueblo | $45,270 | $21.77 | -4% | 920 |
| 7 | Grand Junction | $44,980 | $21.62 | -5% | 710 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Colorado typical pay $47,380
How Colorado compares with nearby states
Colorado pays more than every one of its bordering states. Arizona comes closest, at $44,780, about 5% below Colorado, while Oklahoma trails furthest at $35,930, 24% below. Nebraska, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Kansas fall in between, all 16% to 20% lower than Colorado. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so nearby pay is worth knowing.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $47,380 | baseline |
| Arizona | $44,780 | -5% |
| Nebraska | $40,000 | -16% |
| Utah | $39,840 | -16% |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | -17% |
| Wyoming | $39,160 | -17% |
| Kansas | $38,010 | -20% |
| Oklahoma | $35,930 | -24% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Colorado a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Colorado earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $47,380 a year, 12% above the national figure and the 7th highest of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Colorado, about 7.7 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes CNAs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates. Taken together, Colorado is one of the better-paying states for CNAs.
Summary
CNAs in Colorado typically earn $22.78 an hour, or $47,380 a year, up from $28,710 a decade ago. For details on becoming certified, check Colorado's state registry page; for pay in a specific city, see the local city pages for figures in Boulder, Denver, and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Colorado?
- A typical CNA in Colorado earns about $22.78 an hour, or $47,380 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That's above the national figure of $42,260 a year.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Colorado?
- Typical hourly pay for a CNA in Colorado is $22.78, per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Entry-level CNAs typically start around $18.60 an hour, while experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $26.96 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Colorado?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Colorado typically offer around $18.60 an hour, or about $38,690 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Pay tends to rise from there with experience and additional certification.
- Which city in Colorado pays CNAs the most?
- The Boulder metro area pays CNAs the most in Colorado, with typical pay of $49,860 a year, or $23.97 an hour. The Denver metro area, which includes Aurora and Centennial, follows close behind at $49,110 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Colorado higher than the national rate?
- Yes. Colorado's typical CNA pay of $47,380 a year runs about 12% above the national figure of $42,260 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025), reflecting the state's higher cost of living.