PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Patient Care Tech I
Cottage Health System · Santa Barbara, CA
Pay range with your report
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Santa Barbara, CA
The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Santa Barbara area is $22.21 per hour ($46,190 a year), with the typical range running from $19.43 to $22.68. That ranks 37th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 109th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Barbara.
- $22.21median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $19–$23typical range per hour
- 1,140employed in the metro area
- 109cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Santa Barbara
1 more open role from employers in Santa Barbara. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Santa Barbara, CA
The metro median is in line with the California statewide median of $22.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 1,140 nursing assistants employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 5.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.63).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.62 | $38,730 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $19.43 | $40,410 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Median | $22.21 | $46,190 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.68 | $47,170 | 19% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $25.73 | $53,520 | 35% above U.S. median |
How Santa Barbara ranks
- 37th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 109th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 10th 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.
Get the Santa Barbara Certified Nursing Assistant pay report
Named employers near Santa Barbara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Santa Barbara
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.21 median hour buys what $20.41 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 Santa Barbara paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$800
- Per year: $39,978
- Per month: $3,332
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Barbara
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $214 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,142 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,846 |
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 Santa Barbara as they open.
Per diemPosted today
Transporter/Patient Care Assistant
CommonSpirit Health · Folsom, CA
$29.41–$33.04/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted today
Nursing Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Menlo Park, CA
$48k–$79k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
610+ more Certified Nursing Assistant roles for you in California
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PermanentPosted today
Acute Inpatient Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis
Fresenius Medical Care · San Diego, CA
$25.00–$30.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center G-35 - Sepulveda
Veterans Health Administration · Los Angeles, CA
$43k–$70k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Nursing Assistant - Community Living Center 215-2
Veterans Health Administration · Los Angeles, CA
$43k–$70k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted today
CNA
CommonSpirit Health · San Bernardino, CA
$25.00–$28.02/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Santa Barbara
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Barbara, CA | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Santa Barbara County
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara County (1 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $21.79/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $21.79/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $21.79/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $21.79/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $22.21/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $21.79/hr | 125,778 |
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 Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Santa Barbara, CA?
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $22.21 per hour, about $46,190 a year. The middle half earn between $19.43 and $22.68 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Barbara a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 109th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 37th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Where do certified nursing assistants work in Santa Barbara?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, led by Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Barbara is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 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 Santa Barbara?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Barbara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Barbara.
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What do employers near Santa Barbara 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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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CNA pay reportSanta Barbara, 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.