MO · Kansas City · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Kansas City, MO

The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Kansas City area is $18.81 per hour ($39,130 a year), with the typical range running from $17.75 to $21.62. That ranks 148th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 114th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 9 hospitals in Kansas City. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Kansas City.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Kansas City

4 more open roles from employers in Kansas City. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted today

Medical Surgical CNA

Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Kansas City, MO

Pay range with your report
  • FULL_TIME
  • Req 285906
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 3 days ago

Behavioral Health CNA

Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Kansas City, MO

Pay range with your report
  • FULL_TIME
  • Req 281008
New this week
View role

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Kansas City, MO

The metro median is 5% above the Missouri statewide median of $17.87 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 13,040 nursing assistants employed in the Kansas City metro area, 11.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.32).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.17$35,71010% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.75$36,9207% below U.S. median
Median$18.81$39,1301% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.62$44,97014% above U.S. median
Top 10%$23.03$47,90021% above U.S. median

How Kansas City ranks

  • 148th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 114th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 8 Missouri 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 Kansas City, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Kansas City

  • Overall prices in Kansas City run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.5, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.81 median hour buys what $20.33 buys at the national price level, 7% 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 Kansas City paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$677
  • Per year: $33,858
  • Per month: $2,822

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

Travel assignment per diem in Kansas City

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$135
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,505
13-week assignment$19,565

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 Missouri

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

PermanentPosted 6 days ago

Nursing Assistant (NA)

Select Medical · Lake Saint Louis, MO

$20.00–$25.37/ hour
  • OTHER
  • Req 386648
New this week
View role

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Missouri

Hospitals in Kansas City

CMS lists 9 hospitals in Kansas City, 4 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Saint Lukes North Hospital
Kansas City, MO
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
St Lukes Hospital Of Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Kansas City Va Medical Center
Kansas City, MO
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
University Health Lakewood Medical Center
Kansas City, MO
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
St Joseph Medical Center
Kansas City, MO
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill
Kansas City, MO
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Research Medical Center
Kansas City, MO
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes
The Children's Mercy Hospital
Kansas City, MO
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Center For Behavioral Medicine
Kansas City, MO
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

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

Primary care shortage areas in Jackson County

HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Jackson County (5 population-group, 4 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
Kansas City, KS10 mi$18.81/hr156,752
Independence, MO11 mi$18.81/hr121,629
Lawrence, KS40 mi$18.03/hr97,271
St. Joseph, MO46 mi$17.49/hr71,098
Topeka, KS62 mi$17.80/hr125,467
Manhattan, KS110 mi$17.36/hr54,700

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Missouri · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Missouri

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

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

Missouri state guide

Other healthcare roles in Kansas City

Kansas City city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Kansas City, MO?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Kansas City metro area have a median pay of $18.81 per hour, about $39,130 a year. The middle half earn between $17.75 and $21.62 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Kansas City ranks 114th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 148th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Kansas City?

CMS lists 9 hospitals in Kansas City, led by Saint Lukes North Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Missouri license to work in Kansas City as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Kansas City in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Jackson 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 Kansas City?

The federal per diem benchmark in Kansas City is $135 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,505 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 Kansas City?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Kansas City and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Kansas City.

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · CNA near Kansas City, MO
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Select MedicalSaint Charles, MO · 5 postings$21.09/ hr$17–$25
  • National Healthcare CorporationSt. Charles, MO · 1 wage offer$17.48/ hr$17–$17
  • CommonSpirit HealthBURIEN, WA · 7 postings$31.52/ hr$23–$41
  • Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34

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

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$21.09High$25

6 CNA postings with published pay in Missouri, 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. Nursing Assistant (NA)Permanent
    $20.00–$25.37/ hour
    Select Medical · Lake Saint Louis, MO · posted 6 days ago
  2. Nursing Assistant (NA) DayPermanent
    $19.00–$24.10/ hour
    Select Medical · St. Louis, MO · posted 6 days ago

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

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