HI · Honolulu · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Honolulu, HI

Pay for certified nursing assistants in the Honolulu area centers on $21.55 per hour, or about $44,820 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.80 and the upper quarter over $24.57. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu. That ranks 61st of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 197th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Honolulu and what they pay.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Honolulu

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Honolulu

1 more open role from employers in Honolulu. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Honolulu, HI

The metro median is in line with the Hawaii statewide median of $21.55 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 3,430 nursing assistants employed in the Urban Honolulu metro area, 7.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.86).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.98$35,32011% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.80$39,1001% below U.S. median
Median$21.55$44,82013% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$24.57$51,11029% above U.S. median
Top 10%$25.16$52,33032% above U.S. median

How Honolulu ranks

  • 61st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 197th of 341 after adjusting for local prices

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 Honolulu

  • Overall prices in Urban Honolulu run 11% above the U.S. average (index 111.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 36% above the U.S. average (index 135.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $21.55 median hour buys what $19.42 buys at the national price level, 2% 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 Honolulu paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$776
  • Per year: $38,790
  • Per month: $3,232

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

Travel assignment per diem in Honolulu

ItemFederal 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).

Hospitals in Honolulu

CMS lists 7 hospitals in Honolulu, 3 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Kaiser Foundation Hospital
Honolulu, HI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kuakini Medical Center
Honolulu, HI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Straub Clinic And Hospital
Honolulu, HI
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
The Queens Medical Center
Honolulu, HI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Kapiolani Medical Center For Women & Children
Honolulu, HI
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Shriners Hospital For Children
Honolulu, HI
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedNo
Tripler Amc (Ft Shafter)
Honolulu, HI
Acute Care - Department of DefenseGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Honolulu County

HRSA lists 14 active primary care shortage designations that include Honolulu County (1 geographic, 13 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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.

License and tax basics in Hawaii

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

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

Hawaii state guide

Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Hawaii

Other healthcare roles in Honolulu

Honolulu city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Honolulu, HI?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Urban Honolulu metro area have a median pay of $21.55 per hour, about $44,820 a year. The middle half earn between $18.80 and $24.57 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Urban Honolulu ranks 197th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 61st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Honolulu?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Honolulu. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Honolulu.

Do I need a Hawaii license to work in Honolulu as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Honolulu in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 14 active primary care shortage designations that include Honolulu 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 Honolulu?

The federal per diem benchmark in Honolulu 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 Honolulu?

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

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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

Your CNA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Hawaii list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Fresenius Medical CareKailua Kona, HI · 6 postings$28.00/ hr$18–$31
  • CommonSpirit HealthBurien, WA · 7 postings$31.52/ hr$23–$41
  • Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 105 postings$28.55/ hr$21–$44

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Hawaii list

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$28.00High$31

6 CNA postings with published pay in Hawaii, 6 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 6 CNA roles

  1. Patient Care Technician - PCTPermanent
    $25.00–$31.00/ hour
    Fresenius Medical Care · Kailua Kona, HI · posted today
  2. Patient Care Technician - PCTPermanent
    $25.00–$31.00/ hour
    Fresenius Medical Care · Wailuku, HI · posted today

+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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