CA · Fresno · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Fresno, CA

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Fresno area earn a median of $20.60 per hour, about $42,840 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.91 and $21.78. That ranks 87th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 129th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Fresno. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Fresno.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Fresno

2 more open roles from employers in Fresno. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Fresno, CA

The metro median is 8% below the California statewide median of $22.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 3,600 nursing assistants employed in the Fresno metro area, 7.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.85).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.35$38,1703% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.91$39,3301% below U.S. median
Median$20.60$42,8408% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.78$45,30015% above U.S. median
Top 10%$24.11$50,15027% above U.S. median

How Fresno ranks

  • 87th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 129th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 24th of 24 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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Named employers near Fresno, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Fresno

  • Overall prices in Fresno run 2% above the U.S. average (index 102.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $20.60 median hour buys what $20.16 buys at the national price level, 6% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Fresno paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$742
  • Per year: $37,080
  • Per month: $3,090

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fresno metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Fresno

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$129
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,505
13-week assignment$19,565

Travel certified nursing assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Fresno as they open.

PermanentPosted today

Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration · Menlo Park, CA

$48k–$79k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req 888812100
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted today

CNA

CommonSpirit Health · San Bernardino, CA

$25.00–$28.02/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req 100366275264
New this week
View role

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in California

Certified Nursing Assistant salary in California

Hospitals in Fresno

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Fresno, 2 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Fresno Va Medical Center (Va Central California Healthcare System)
Fresno, CA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fresno
Fresno, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Saint Agnes Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Community Regional Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Fresno Surgical Hospital
Fresno, CA
Acute careFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Fresno County

HRSA lists 36 active primary care shortage designations that include Fresno County (3 geographic, 3 population-group, 30 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Clovis, CA7 mi$20.60/hr127,993
Madera, CA21 mi$20.60/hr69,094
Hanford, CA32 mi$21.82/hr60,594
Visalia, CA41 mi$21.28/hr146,271
Tulare, CA47 mi$21.28/hr72,601
Merced, CA52 mi$21.17/hr96,073

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in California · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Fresno

Fresno city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Fresno, CA?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Fresno metro area have a median pay of $20.60 per hour, about $42,840 a year. The middle half earn between $18.91 and $21.78 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Fresno a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?

Fresno ranks 129th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 87th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% above the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Fresno?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Fresno, led by Fresno Va Medical Center (Va Central California Healthcare System). Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Fresno as a certified nursing assistant?

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Fresno in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 36 active primary care shortage designations that include Fresno County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Fresno?

The federal per diem benchmark in Fresno is $129 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,505 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place certified nursing assistants in Fresno?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fresno and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fresno.

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What do employers near Fresno pay certified nursing assistants? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · CNA near Fresno, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportFresno, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 2 postings$41.49/ hr$37–$46
  • Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34
  • Fresenius Medical CareSan Francisco, CA · 4 postings$28.00/ hr$25–$35
  • CommonSpirit HealthGlendale, CA · 8 postings$27.89/ hr$25–$33

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$23Median$27.17High$32

83 CNA postings with published pay in California, 79 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 83 CNA roles

  1. Transporter/Patient Care AssistantPer diem
    $29.41–$33.04/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Folsom, CA · posted today
  2. Nursing AssistantPermanent
    $48k–$79k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Menlo Park, CA · posted today

+ 81 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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