Healthcare & Medical Jobs in Denver, CO
Denver's healthcare jobs run from Denver Health's safety-net campus on Bannock Street to the East 19th Avenue hospital row in Uptown and the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The guides below cover every healthcare and medical role in Denver, who is hiring, what it pays and how to get started.
Why Healthcare Work Is Different in Denver
Denver's hospital jobs sit in a few tight clusters. Inside the city, Denver Health runs the public safety-net system from 777 Bannock Street near the Golden Triangle, along with community clinics, urgent cares and the health service at the Downtown Detention Center and the Denver County Jail. A short drive northeast, HCA HealthONE Presbyterian/St. Luke's and Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital sit a few blocks apart on East 19th Avenue in Uptown, and National Jewish Health, the respiratory and immune specialty hospital, sits at 1400 Jackson Street off East Colfax. AdventHealth Porter covers south Denver from South Downing Street, and Kaiser Permanente runs medical offices across the city.
Then there is Anschutz. On the old Fitzsimons Army post in north Aurora, reached by Colfax and I-225, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing share one campus, so much of the metro's teaching, research and specialty care hiring happens just over the city line. Two Colorado rules shape the market too: the state belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses can move here from other compact states without relicensing, and Denver's own 2026 minimum wage of $19.29 an hour sets a higher floor for support jobs inside city limits than the $15.16 statewide rate.
Top Healthcare & Medical Employers in Denver
These are the systems doing most of the healthcare hiring in and around Denver:
- Denver Health - the city's safety-net hospital and clinic system, hiring RNs, LPNs and CNAs, with a Nurse Residency Program and tuition reimbursement.
- UCHealth - the academic system behind University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora and clinics from Highlands Ranch to central Denver.
- HCA HealthONE - Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center in Uptown, with labor and delivery, NICU, ICU and oncology nursing plus a new-grad RN residency.
- Kaiser Permanente - the health plan's Denver medical offices hire RNs and LPNs for primary care, pediatrics, urgent care and surgery.
- Children's Hospital Colorado - the region's pediatric hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus, with dozens of open nursing roles.
- Intermountain Health - Saint Joseph Hospital in Uptown, plus Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge and other metro hospitals.
- AdventHealth Porter - the south Denver hospital, recruiting emergency, ICU and float pool nurses with sign-on bonuses.
Healthcare & Medical Career Paths in Denver
- Nursing - Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Certified Nursing Assistant and Patient Care Technician, plus the Healthcare overview guide. This is the largest track and the clearest ladder, from aide to LPN to RN.
- Clinical and diagnostic technicians - Medical Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomist, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, Respiratory Therapist and Pharmacy Technician. These roles run on short certificate or associate programs and work alongside the hospital units.
- Clinic and front office - Medical Assistant, Medical Receptionist, Medical Biller and Coder and Dental Assistant. These jobs fill the outpatient clinics and medical offices spread across the metro.
- Emergency, therapy and behavioral health - EMT and Paramedic, Physical Therapy Assistant and Behavioral Health Technician, covering ambulance, rehab and mental health care.
How to Start a Healthcare & Medical Career in Denver
- Certified Nurse Aide - certified by the Colorado Board of Nursing after an approved training program and exam; certified aides must work at least 8 paid hours as a CNA each renewal cycle. Community College of Denver runs a Nurse Aide program.
- Licensed Practical Nurse - licensed by the Colorado Board of Nursing after an approved program and the NCLEX-PN. Community College of Denver's Practical Nursing certificate is taught at the Lowry Campus on Alton Way.
- Registered Nurse - licensed by the Colorado Board of Nursing after an approved program and the NCLEX-RN. BSN programs include the University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing in Aurora, Regis University's Loretto Heights School of Nursing and MSU Denver on the Auraria Campus.
- BLS certification - CPR training from the American Heart Association or Red Cross, asked for by most hospital and clinic postings.
The CNA certification and the LPN and RN licenses are legal requirements for those titles in Colorado; BLS, IV certification and a BSN over an associate degree are employer preferences, though many Denver hospitals expect them.
Healthcare & Medical Salaries in Denver
- Entry - about $20 to $24 an hour for nursing assistants, unit clerks, patient transport and other support roles.
- Mid - roughly $25 to $40 an hour for licensed practical nurses and certified technicians.
- Senior - about $35 to $60 an hour for registered nurses, with specialty and night roles at the top.
These are estimates from posted ranges at Denver employers in 2026 and federal wage data, which puts healthcare support work in the metro near $22 an hour on average and healthcare practitioners near $53. Hospitals pay most for emergency, critical care and float pool shifts and often add sign-on bonuses; some Kaiser Permanente roles are union-represented, and Denver Health offers 20 days of paid time off plus seven holidays to new employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the biggest healthcare employers in Denver?
Denver Health, UCHealth, HCA HealthONE, Intermountain Health, Children's Hospital Colorado and Kaiser Permanente do most of the hiring. Denver Health and the Uptown hospitals are inside city limits, while UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Colorado are on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.
What is the fastest way into a healthcare job in Denver?
Support roles such as patient transport and unit clerk often train on the job, and a nurse aide program is the quickest licensed route. Community College of Denver runs a Nurse Aide program, and Denver Health recruits newly certified nursing assistants.
Does Colorado accept nursing licenses from other states?
Colorado is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so RNs and LPNs with a multistate license from another compact state can work here. Nurses from non-compact states apply to the Colorado Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement.
How much do healthcare jobs pay in Denver?
Entry-level support jobs pay about $20 to $24 an hour, LPNs and technicians about $25 to $40, and registered nurses about $35 to $60. Inside Denver city limits the 2026 minimum wage is $19.29 an hour.
Where can I train for a healthcare career in Denver?
Community College of Denver offers nurse aide and practical nursing programs, and the University of Colorado Anschutz College of Nursing, Regis University and MSU Denver offer BSN programs. Regis also has a one-year Accelerated BSN for people who already hold a bachelor's degree.
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