PermanentPosted yesterday
Patient Care Technician
CommonSpirit Health · Ringgold, GA
$15.30–$21.61/ hour
New this week
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Columbus, GA
Pay for certified nursing assistants in the Columbus area centers on $16.62 per hour, or about $34,580 a year. The lower quarter earns under $14.08 and the upper quarter over $17.41. That ranks 323rd of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 255th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Columbus. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Columbus.
- $16.62median pay per hour, Columbus
- $14–$17typical range per hour
- 1,170employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Columbus, GA
The metro median is 5% below the Georgia statewide median of $17.58 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 1,170 nursing assistants employed in the Columbus metro area, 10.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.12).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $12.68 | $26,370 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $14.08 | $29,290 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Median | $16.62 | $34,580 | 13% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $17.41 | $36,210 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $19.02 | $39,560 | in line with U.S. median |
How Columbus ranks
- 323rd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 255th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th of 12 Georgia 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 Columbus
- Overall prices in Columbus run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 39% below the U.S. average (index 61.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $16.62 median hour buys what $18.61 buys at the national price level, 2% below 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.
Get the Columbus Certified Nursing Assistant pay report
Named employers near Columbus, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Columbus paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$598
- Per year: $29,916
- Per month: $2,493
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Columbus metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Columbus
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Georgia
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Columbus as they open.
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Nursing Assistant- Neuro Medical Surgical- Days
Advocate Health · Georgia
$19.80–$29.70/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
290+ more Certified Nursing Assistant roles for you in Georgia
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PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Nurse Assistant- Neuro Med/Surg- Nights
Advocate Health · Georgia
$19.80–$29.70/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Nursing Assistant (NA) / Nights
Select Medical · Macon, GA
$16.41–$20.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Nursing Assistant (NA) / Days
Select Medical · Augusta, GA
$17.23–$21.00/ hour
Per diemPosted 14 days ago
Certified Nursing Assistant - AH Floyd - PRN
Advocate Health · Georgia
$20.80–$31.20/ hour
Top 25% pay
Hospitals in Columbus
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Columbus, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside Columbus, GA | Acute care | For-profit | 5 of 5 | No |
| St Francis Hospital- Emory Healthcare Columbus, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | No |
| Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Columbus, GA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| West Central Georgia Regional Hospital Columbus, GA | 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 Muscogee County
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Muscogee County (1 population-group, 2 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, AL | 37 mi | $14.70/hr | 83,757 |
| Warner Robins, GA | 71 mi | $17.18/hr | 86,199 |
| Macon, GA | 72 mi | $16.35/hr | 157,056 |
| Albany, GA | 76 mi | $15.92/hr | 66,705 |
| South Fulton, GA | 80 mi | $18.39/hr | 112,003 |
| Montgomery, AL | 82 mi | $15.61/hr | 195,818 |
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Georgia · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Georgia
State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Georgia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Columbus
Columbus city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Columbus, GA?
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Columbus metro area have a median pay of $16.62 per hour, about $34,580 a year. The middle half earn between $14.08 and $17.41 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbus a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?
Columbus ranks 255th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 323rd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Where do certified nursing assistants work in Columbus?
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Columbus, led by Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Georgia license to work in Columbus as a certified nursing assistant?
State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Columbus in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Muscogee 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 Columbus?
The federal per diem benchmark in Columbus is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 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 Columbus?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbus and across Georgia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbus.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Columbus 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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290+ Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Georgia, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CNA pay reportColumbus, GA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Advocate HealthRome, GA · 4 postings$25.38/ hr$20–$31
- Select MedicalMacon, GA · 2 postings$18.66/ hr$16–$21
- PruittHealthFairburn, GA · 2 wage offers$15.09/ hr$15–$16
- PruittHealthAugusta, GA · 4 wage offers$14.88/ hr$14–$16
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$17Median$21.94High$31
8 CNA postings with published pay in Georgia, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 8 CNA roles
- Patient Care TechnicianPermanent$15.30–$21.61/ hour
- Nursing Assistant- Neuro Medical Surgical- DaysPermanent$19.80–$29.70/ hour
+ 6 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.