There is an amazing future job outlook for most of the medical occupations through the next decade and it is the perfect time to begin a career in healthcare in Colorado. The Colorado Department of Labor projects that professions in the Health Science industry will expand at one of the highest rates in the job marketplace. The need for new workers is near record levels in many locations across the country and Colorado. In a bit of even better news for anyone thinking about getting into the field of healthcare, (as reported by the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey), also, with over a million unfilled job openings for healthcare jobs in the country.
Starting a career in healthcare in Colorado
As is true all over the United States (the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% rise in medical occupations over the next ten years), the medical industry in Colorado is additionally undergoing tremendous growth. An older population and growing number of insured patients are the main motivation for this record growth. This environment has created an abundance of possibilities for aspiring workers of all backgrounds.
The Best Healthcare Schools in Colorado
| School Name / Website | Address | School Type | # of Students | # of Undergrads | Grad Rate | Transfer-Out Rate | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Natural Therapy Inc | 625 8th Ave, Greeley, Colorado 80631-9441 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 50 | 50 | 79% | NA | NA |
| Adams State University | 208 Edgemont Blvd, Alamosa, Colorado 81101 | 4-year, Public | 3314 | 1960 | 29% | 17% | $12,989 |
| Aims Community College | 5401 W. 20th St., Greeley, Colorado 80634 | 2-year, Public | 5982 | 5982 | 26% | 16% | $7,330 |
| American Sentinel University | 2260 South Xanadu Way, Aurora, Colorado 80014-6510 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 2637 | 1421 | NA | NA | NA |
| Arapahoe Community College | 5900 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, Colorado 80160-9002 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 12421 | 12421 | 26% | 23% | $7,101 |
| Aspen University | 1660 South Albion Street, Suite 525, Denver, Colorado 80222 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 4973 | 3130 | 25% | NA | NA |
| Aveda Institute-Denver | 700 16th Street, Denver, Colorado 80202 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 417 | 417 | 67% | NA | $15,220 |
| Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology | 1681 S Dayton St, Denver, Colorado 80247 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 321 | 321 | 30% | NA | $21,677 |
| CollegeAmerica-Colorado Springs | 3645 Citadel Drive South, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit | 206 | 206 | 33% | 3% | $24,136 |
| CollegeAmerica-Denver | 1385 S Colorado Blvd., 5th Floor, Denver, Colorado 80222 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit | 139 | 139 | 39% | NA | $25,938 |
| CollegeAmerica-Fort Collins | 4601 South Mason St, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit | 126 | 126 | 26% | NA | $25,805 |
| Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology | 2766 Janitell Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906-4944 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 109 | 109 | 33% | NA | $19,810 |
| Colorado Christian University | 8787 West Alameda Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80226 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 7398 | 6537 | 50% | NA | $25,198 |
| Colorado Mesa University | 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-3122 | 4-year, Public | 9591 | 9459 | 33% | 30% | $14,309 |
| Colorado Mountain College | 802 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601-0233 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 5934 | 5934 | 23% | 37% | $7,229 |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | 500 Kennedy Drive, Rangely, Colorado 81648-3598 | 2-year, Public | 1201 | 1201 | 37% | 28% | $11,508 |
| Colorado School of Healing Arts | 7655 W Mississippi Ste 100, Lakewood, Colorado 80226 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 97 | 97 | 50% | 19% | $27,955 |
| Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine | 1441 York St Ste 302, Denver, Colorado 80206 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 100 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | 102 Administration Building, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-0100 | 4-year, Public | 33083 | 25523 | 69% | 9% | $17,191 |
| Colorado State University-Global Campus | 7800 East Orchard Road Ste 200, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111-0000 | 4-year, Public | 12381 | 8459 | NA | NA | NA |
| Colorado State University-Pueblo | 2200 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, Colorado 81001-4901 | 4-year, Public | 6639 | 4621 | 35% | 41% | $14,988 |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | 4435 N Chestnut Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907-3812 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 25517 | 22306 | 26% | NA | $15,888 |
| Community College of Aurora | 16000 E CentreTech Pky, Aurora, Colorado 80011-9036 | 2-year, Public | 8026 | 8026 | 29% | 14% | $7,404 |
| Community College of Denver | 1111 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colorado 80204-2026 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 8556 | 8556 | 10% | 10% | $8,962 |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | 111 N. Havana Street, Aurora, Colorado 80010-4314 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 676 | 676 | 73% | NA | $25,315 |
| Cortiva Institute-Aurora | 14107A East Exposition Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80012-2523 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 173 | 173 | 76% | NA | $20,738 |
| Cortiva Institute-Westminster | 8991 B Harlan Street Suite B, Westminster, Colorado 80031-2921 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 119 | 119 | 84% | NA | $20,522 |
| Denver College of Nursing | 1401 19th St, Denver, Colorado 80202 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 796 | 796 | NA | NA | NA |
| DeVry University-Colorado | 1870 W. 122nd Ave., Westminster, Colorado 80234 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 221 | 196 | 42% | 23% | $30,968 |
| Emily Griffith Technical College | 1860 Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado 80203 | < 2-year, Public | 4327 | 4327 | 82% | NA | $6,527 |
| Fort Lewis College | 1000 Rim Drive, Durango, Colorado 81301-3999 | 4-year, Public | 3332 | 3300 | 40% | 38% | $18,208 |
| Front Range Community College | 3645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, Colorado 80031 | 2-year, Public | 19259 | 19259 | 23% | 17% | $7,582 |
| Healing Arts Institute | 4007 Automation Way, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525-3479 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 54 | 54 | 92% | NA | $22,984 |
| IBMC College | 3842 South Mason Street, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 359 | 359 | 64% | NA | $21,014 |
| Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture | 317 W South Boulder Rd, Suite 5, Louisville, Colorado 80027 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 34 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Intellitec College-Colorado Springs | 2315 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909-6096 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 635 | 635 | 57% | NA | $17,016 |
| Intellitec College-Grand Junction | 772 Horizon Dr., Grand Junction, Colorado 81506 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 842 | 842 | 64% | NA | $18,132 |
| Lamar Community College | 2401 S Main St, Lamar, Colorado 81052-3999 | 2-year, Public | 811 | 811 | 40% | 12% | $9,711 |
| Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado | 1441 York St Ste 301, Denver, Colorado 80206 | < 2-year, Private for-profit | 55 | 55 | 57% | NA | $31,684 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Speer Blvd and Colfax Ave, Denver, Colorado 80217-3362 | 4-year, Public | 20304 | 19666 | 28% | 27% | $12,175 |
| Morgan Community College | 920 Barlow Road, Fort Morgan, Colorado 80701 | 2-year, Public | 1383 | 1383 | 47% | 13% | $8,685 |
| Naropa University | 2130 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, Colorado 80302-6697 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 966 | 397 | 31% | 42% | $24,823 |
| National American University-Centennial | 8242 South University Blvd, Suite 100, Centennial, Colorado 80122-3157 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 176 | 176 | NA | NA | $11,532 |
| National American University-Colorado Springs | 1915 Jamboree Drive, Suite 185, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80920 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 196 | 196 | 8% | NA | NA |
| National American University-Colorado Springs South | 1079 Space Center Drive, Suite 140, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80915-3612 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit | 152 | 152 | NA | NA | $9,593 |
| Northeastern Junior College | 100 College Avenue, Sterling, Colorado 80751-2944 | 2-year, Public | 1547 | 1547 | 38% | 17% | $11,771 |
| Otero Junior College | 1802 Colorado Ave, La Junta, Colorado 81050 | 2-year, Public | 1330 | 1330 | 34% | 17% | $11,281 |
| Pickens Technical College | 500 Airport Blvd, Aurora, Colorado 80011-9307 | 2-year, Public | 1011 | 1011 | 83% | NA | $4,371 |
| Pikes Peak Community College | 5675 S Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906-5498 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 13275 | 13275 | 17% | 19% | $8,438 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Aurora | 13750 E. Mississippi Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80012-0000 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 257 | 257 | 77% | NA | $18,675 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs | 3770 Citadel Drive North, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 536 | 536 | 70% | NA | $17,480 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | 7475 Dakin St Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80221 | 2-year, Private for-profit | 768 | 768 | 78% | NA | $18,556 |
| Platt College-Aurora | 3100 S Parker Rd, Aurora, Colorado 80014-3141 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 236 | 236 | 67% | 33% | NA |
| Pueblo Community College | 900 West Orman Avenue, Pueblo, Colorado 81004-1499 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 5991 | 5991 | 19% | 25% | $15,235 |
| Red Rocks Community College | 13300 W Sixth Ave, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-1255 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Public | 7355 | 7323 | 26% | 32% | $6,426 |
| Regis University | 3333 Regis Blvd, Denver, Colorado 80221-1099 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 8341 | 4084 | 71% | NA | $25,615 |
| Rocky Vista University | 8401 S Chambers Road, Parker, Colorado 80134 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 779 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Rolf Institute of Structural Integration | 5055 Chaparral Court, Suite 103, Boulder, Colorado 80301-0000 | < 2-year, Private not-for-profit | 88 | 88 | NA | NA | $35,148 |
| Southwest Acupuncture College-Boulder | 6630 Gunpark Dr Suite 200, Boulder, Colorado 80301 | 4-year, Private for-profit | 68 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Technical College of the Rockies | 1765 hwy 50, Delta, Colorado 81416 | 2-year, Public | 328 | 328 | 86% | NA | $3,371 |
| Trinidad State Junior College | 600 Prospect Street, Trinidad, Colorado 81082 | 2-year, Public | 1663 | 1663 | 45% | 9% | $12,728 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Regent Drive at Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0017 | 4-year, Public | 35338 | 29056 | 69% | 20% | $20,323 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 | 4-year, Public | 12932 | 10808 | 43% | 35% | $15,427 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | 1380 Lawrence Street, Lawrence Street Center, Suite 1400, Denver, Colorado 80217-3364 | 4-year, Public | 24839 | 15586 | 45% | 32% | $14,586 |
| University of Denver | 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, Colorado 80208 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit | 11434 | 5765 | 75% | NA | $35,163 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Carter Hall - Rm 4000, Greeley, Colorado 80639 | 4-year, Public | 13399 | 10092 | 48% | 17% | $15,003 |
Support roles in the Colorado healthcare field
Even though most people view physicians and other professional-level positions as average health workers, the fact is that most of the individuals working in the industry are employed in either nursing or Healthcare Support Occupations (61,600 in Colorado). Having an annual median salary of $34,330, these support workers take home a solid salary for occupations which do not require a four-year college education.
In the section shown below, you’ll review training requirements and job and salary information for ten popular healthcare jobs in Colorado.
| Colorado Healthcare Careers | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 1040 | 39.16 | 81450 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 4220 | 20.15 | 41900 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 5530 | 17.43 | 36250 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 5340 | 23.91 | 49740 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 2910 | 23.58 | 49040 |
| Home Health Aides | 9180 | 12.76 | 26540 |
| Nursing Assistants | 20540 | 15.41 | 32040 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 570 | 26.29 | 54690 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 1270 | 25.37 | 52780 |
| Dental Assistants | 7080 | 18.59 | 38660 |
| Medical Assistants | 9810 | 16.95 | 35260 |
| Phlebotomists | 1670 | 16.80 | 34930 |
Getting going in the Colorado medical field
Regardless of the possibility of finding an entry-level position without prior education, the majority of organizations in Colorado would rather employ people who have some kind of certification. Consequently, it’s strongly suggested that anybody who is considering a career in healthcare graduate from a professional, formal training course.
With regards to healthcare support courses, the majority can be finished in a year or less.
Getting the appropriate allied health career training in Colorado
- CNA courses in Colorado
- Dental assistant training in Colorado
- EMT classes in Colorado
- LPN schools in Colorado
- HHA classes in Colorado
- Medical assistant schools in Colorado
- Medical billing & coding classes in Colorado
- Pharmacy technician courses in Colorado
- Phlebotomy programs in Colorado
- Ultrasound technician training in Colorado
- Patient care technician training in Colorado
Where to look for medical jobs in Colorado
There are healthcare opportunities all across the State of Colorado, but the Denver region is the place where the greatest number of professionals are employed by the industry. The greater Denver area is where you can find the state’s highest concentration of health professionals with approximately 32,220 employed there.
Important metropolitan areas in Colorado where you will find a significant number of healthcare jobs are:
- Denver-Aurura-Lakewood, CO
- Boulder, CO
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Fort Collins, CO
- Grand Junction, CO
- Greeley, CO
- Pueblo, CO