MI · Detroit · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Detroit, MI

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Detroit area earn a median of $18.79 per hour, about $39,080 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.31 and $21.04. That ranks 151st of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 248th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 10 hospitals in Detroit. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Detroit.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Detroit

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

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Detroit, MI

The metro median is in line with the Michigan statewide median of $18.70 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 16,040 nursing assistants employed in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area, 8.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.93).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.58$36,5708% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.31$38,0804% below U.S. median
Median$18.79$39,0801% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.04$43,76011% above U.S. median
Top 10%$22.34$46,47018% above U.S. median

How Detroit ranks

  • 151st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 248th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th of 14 Michigan 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 Detroit, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Detroit

  • Overall prices in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn run in line with the U.S. average (index 100.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.79 median hour buys what $18.73 buys at the national price level, 1% 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.

Estimate your Detroit paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$676
  • Per year: $33,822
  • Per month: $2,818

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

Travel assignment per diem in Detroit

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$152
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,582
13-week assignment$20,566

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 Michigan

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

PermanentPosted 7 days ago

Nursing Assistant

Veterans Health Administration · Ann Arbor, MI

$37k–$61k/ year
  • Full-time
  • Req 888203500
Top 25% payNew this week
View role

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Michigan

Hospitals in Detroit

CMS lists 10 hospitals in Detroit, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Detroit (John D. Dingell) Va Medical Center
Detroit, MI
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Henry Ford Health Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Karmanos Cancer Center
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5No
Detroit Receiving Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Harper University Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Henry Ford Health St John Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Sinai-Grace Hospital
Detroit, MI
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Children's Hospital Of Michigan
Detroit, MI
Children'sFor-profitNot ratedYes
Bca Stonecrest Center
Detroit, MI
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Samaritan Behavioral Center
Detroit, MI
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Wayne County

HRSA lists 18 active primary care shortage designations that include Wayne County (6 population-group, 12 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Dearborn, MI7 mi$18.79/hr106,377
Warren, MI9 mi$18.79/hr137,686

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Michigan · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Michigan

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

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

Michigan state guide

Other healthcare roles in Detroit

Detroit city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Detroit, MI?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area have a median pay of $18.79 per hour, about $39,080 a year. The middle half earn between $18.31 and $21.04 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn ranks 248th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 151st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Detroit?

CMS lists 10 hospitals in Detroit, led by Detroit (John D. Dingell) Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Michigan license to work in Detroit as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Detroit in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 18 active primary care shortage designations that include Wayne 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 Detroit?

The federal per diem benchmark in Detroit is $152 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,582 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 Detroit?

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

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What do employers near Detroit 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.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

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

Your CNA pay reportDetroit, MI · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Select MedicalWyandotte, MI · 2 postings$21.12/ hr$18–$24
  • Holland HospitalHolland, MI · 5 postings$20.26/ hr$17–$24
  • Bronson Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterMattawan, MI · 1 wage offer$16.54/ hr$17–$17

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$20.26High$24

9 CNA postings with published pay in Michigan, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 9 CNA roles

  1. Nursing AssistantPermanent
    $37k–$61k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Ann Arbor, MI · posted 7 days ago
  2. Patient Care Assistant (Float Team) Part Time, DaysPermanent
    $16.88–$23.64/ hour
    Holland Hospital · Holland, MI · posted 7 days ago

+ 7 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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