KY · Louisville · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Louisville, KY

The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Louisville area is $18.44 per hour ($38,360 a year), with the typical range running from $17.69 to $21.61. That ranks 181st of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 164th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in Louisville. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Louisville.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Louisville

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

Per diemPosted today

Patient Care Technician

American Renal Associates · Louisville, KY

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  • Per Diem
  • Req P-103147
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All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Kentucky

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Louisville, KY

The metro median is 3% above the Kentucky statewide median of $17.95 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 6,800 nursing assistants employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, 9.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.10).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$15.46$32,16019% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.69$36,8007% below U.S. median
Median$18.44$38,3603% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.61$44,95014% above U.S. median
Top 10%$22.81$47,44020% above U.S. median

How Louisville ranks

  • 181st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 164th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 6 Kentucky 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 Louisville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Louisville

  • Overall prices in Louisville/Jefferson County run 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.44 median hour buys what $19.81 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Louisville paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$664
  • Per year: $33,192
  • Per month: $2,766

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

Travel assignment per diem in Louisville

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$142
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,554
13-week assignment$20,202

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 Kentucky

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

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Kentucky

Hospitals in Louisville

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Louisville, 2 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Louisville Va Medical Center
Louisville, KY
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Baptist Health Louisville
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Norton Hospitals, Inc
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Uofl Health - Jewish Hospital And Mary & Elizabeth Hospital
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
University Of Louisville Hospital
Louisville, KY
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Central State Hospital
Louisville, KY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo
The Brook Hospital - Dupont
Louisville, KY
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo
The Brook Hospital - Kmi
Louisville, KY
PsychiatricGovernment 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 Jefferson County

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Jefferson County (3 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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
Jeffersonville, IN12 mi$18.44/hr52,912
Lexington, KY65 mi$19.57/hr329,437
Columbus, IN74 mi$17.39/hr51,970
Bloomington, IN84 mi$17.63/hr79,986
Owensboro, KY85 mi$18.25/hr60,675
Cincinnati, OH91 mi$18.82/hr314,915

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Kentucky · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Kentucky

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

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

Kentucky state guide

Other healthcare roles in Louisville

Louisville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Louisville, KY?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area have a median pay of $18.44 per hour, about $38,360 a year. The middle half earn between $17.69 and $21.61 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Louisville/Jefferson County ranks 164th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 181st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Louisville?

CMS lists 8 hospitals in Louisville, led by Louisville Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Kentucky license to work in Louisville as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Louisville in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Jefferson 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 Louisville?

The federal per diem benchmark in Louisville is $142 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,554 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 Louisville?

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

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • 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
  • Fresenius Medical CareSan Francisco, CA · 4 postings$28.00/ hr$25–$35

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

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$22.88High$30

1426 CNA postings with published pay in the US, 1213 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 CNA roles

  1. Patient Care Technician (PCT) – Full-timePermanent
    $18.00–$21.94/ hour
    Select Medical · Danville, KY · posted 17 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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