MI · Kalamazoo · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Kalamazoo, MI

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Kalamazoo area earn a median of $19.03 per hour, about $39,570 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $17.81 and $22.39. That ranks 130th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 142nd of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Kalamazoo. The free report below lists employers near Kalamazoo and what they pay.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Kalamazoo

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

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Kalamazoo, MI

The metro median is 2% above the Michigan statewide median of $18.70 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 1,180 nursing assistants employed in the Kalamazoo-Portage metro area, 9.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.09).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.05$35,46010% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.81$37,0406% below U.S. median
Median$19.03$39,570in line with U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.39$46,57018% above U.S. median
Top 10%$24.41$50,77028% above U.S. median

How Kalamazoo ranks

  • 130th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 142nd of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd 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 Kalamazoo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Kalamazoo

  • Overall prices in Kalamazoo-Portage run 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 18% below the U.S. average (index 81.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $19.03 median hour buys what $20.07 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Kalamazoo paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$685
  • Per year: $34,254
  • Per month: $2,854

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

Travel assignment per diem in Kalamazoo

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).

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Michigan

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Kalamazoo, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Bronson Methodist Hospital
Kalamazoo, MI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Borgess Medical Center
Kalamazoo, MI
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Kalamazoo Behavioral Health Hospital
Kalamazoo, MI
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital
Kalamazoo, MI
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 Kalamazoo County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Kalamazoo County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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
Battle Creek, MI18 mi$18.70/hr52,205
Kentwood, MI42 mi$17.92/hr54,768
Wyoming, MI43 mi$17.92/hr78,559
Elkhart, IN45 mi$17.99/hr53,690
Grand Rapids, MI48 mi$17.92/hr200,117
Mishawaka, IN51 mi$18.16/hr51,020

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 Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

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

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Kalamazoo-Portage metro area have a median pay of $19.03 per hour, about $39,570 a year. The middle half earn between $17.81 and $22.39 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Kalamazoo-Portage ranks 142nd of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 130th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% below the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Kalamazoo?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Kalamazoo, led by Bronson Methodist Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Michigan license to work in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo?

The federal per diem benchmark in Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo?

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

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What do employers near Kalamazoo 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

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    What they are offering now

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

Your CNA pay reportKalamazoo, 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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