PermanentPosted today
CNA
CommonSpirit Health · San Bernardino, CA
$25.00–$28.02/ hour
New this week
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Palm Desert, CA
Pay for certified nursing assistants in the Palm Desert area centers on $21.61 per hour, or about $44,950 a year. The lower quarter earns under $19.54 and the upper quarter over $22.62. The CMS hospital directory lists 23 hospitals in the Palm Desert metro area. That ranks 58th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 116th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Palm Desert and what they pay.
- $21.61median pay per hour, Riverside
- $20–$23typical range per hour
- 9,040employed in the metro area
- 4open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles near Palm Desert
Roles in other cities of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area.
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Certified Nursing Assistant/ Nursing Assistant
San Antonio Regional Hospital · Upland, CA
$23.00–$31.82/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
190+ more Certified Nursing Assistant roles for you in Palm Desert, CA
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PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Certified Nursing Assistant CNA Full Time Nights
ScionHealth · Ontario, CA
$21.00–$25.54/ hour
PermanentPosted 30 days ago
Certified Nursing Assistant
San Antonio Regional Hospital · Upland, CA
$23.00–$33.42/ hour
Top 25% pay
Get the Palm Desert Certified Nursing Assistant pay report
Named employers near Palm Desert, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring certified nursing assistants near Palm Desert
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Regional Hospital | 2 | $27.81 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 1 | $26.51 |
| ScionHealth | 1 | $23.27 |
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Palm Desert, CA
The metro median is 3% below the California statewide median of $22.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 9,040 nursing assistants employed in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area, 5.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.59).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.34 | $38,150 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $19.54 | $40,640 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Median | $21.61 | $44,950 | 14% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.62 | $47,050 | 19% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $25.55 | $53,140 | 34% above U.S. median |
How Palm Desert ranks
- 58th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 116th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 17th 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.
What your pay buys in Palm Desert
- Overall prices in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario run 6% above the U.S. average (index 106.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 29% above the U.S. average (index 129.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $21.61 median hour buys what $20.30 buys at the national price level, 7% 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 Palm Desert paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$778
- Per year: $38,898
- Per month: $3,242
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Palm Desert
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $167 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,771 |
| 13-week assignment | $23,023 |
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).
Hospitals in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area
CMS lists 23 hospitals in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area, 4 of the 21 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chino Valley Medical Center Chino, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Riverside Riverside, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital-Moreno Valley Moreno Valley, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Temecula Valley Hospital Temecula, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Community Hospital Of San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Corona Regional Medical Center Corona, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Desert Valley Hospital Victorville, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital Fontana/Ontario Fontana, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center Riverside, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Riverside University Health System-Medical Center Moreno Valley, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Riverside County
HRSA lists 16 active primary care shortage designations that include Riverside County (3 population-group, 13 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indio, CA | 7 mi | $21.61/hr | 94,275 |
| Cathedral City, CA | 9 mi | $21.61/hr | 52,517 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Palm Desert
Palm Desert city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Palm Desert, CA?
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area have a median pay of $21.61 per hour, about $44,950 a year. The middle half earn between $19.54 and $22.62 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Palm Desert a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario ranks 116th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 58th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Palm Desert?
We list 4 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Palm Desert.
Do I need a California license to work in Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 16 active primary care shortage designations that include Riverside 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 Palm Desert?
The federal per diem benchmark in Palm Desert is $167 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,771 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 Palm Desert?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Palm Desert and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Palm Desert.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Palm Desert pay certified nursing assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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610+ Certified Nursing Assistant roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CNA pay reportPalm Desert, 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
- Transporter/Patient Care AssistantPer diem$29.41–$33.04/ hour
- Nursing AssistantPermanent$48k–$79k/ year
+ 81 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.