MO · St. Joseph · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in St. Joseph, MO

The median certified nursing assistant pay in the St. Joseph area is $17.49 per hour ($36,390 a year), with the typical range running from $16.63 to $19.73. That ranks 269th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 121st of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in St. Joseph. The free report below lists employers near St. Joseph and what they pay.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in St. Joseph, MO

The metro median is 2% below the Missouri statewide median of $17.87 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 730 nursing assistants employed in the St. Joseph metro area, 13.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.51).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$14.23$29,60025% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$16.63$34,59013% below U.S. median
Median$17.49$36,3908% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$19.73$41,0404% above U.S. median
Top 10%$20.85$43,37010% above U.S. median

How St. Joseph ranks

  • 269th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 121st of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th 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.

What your pay buys in St. Joseph

  • Overall prices in St. Joseph run 14% below the U.S. average (index 86.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 45% below the U.S. average (index 55.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $17.49 median hour buys what $20.25 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.

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

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Estimate your St. Joseph paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$630
  • Per year: $31,482
  • Per month: $2,624

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

Travel assignment per diem in St. Joseph

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 Missouri

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

PermanentPosted 6 days ago

Nursing Assistant (NA)

Select Medical · Lake Saint Louis, MO

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

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Missouri

Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Missouri

Hospitals in St. Joseph

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Mosaic Life Care At St Joseph
Saint Joseph, MO
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehab Ctr
Saint Joseph, 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 Buchanan County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Buchanan County (1 population-group, 2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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, KS44 mi$18.81/hr156,752
Kansas City, MO46 mi$18.81/hr516,032
Shawnee, KS51 mi$18.81/hr69,724
Independence, MO53 mi$18.81/hr121,629
Lenexa, KS55 mi$18.81/hr59,427
Blue Springs, MO60 mi$18.81/hr61,246

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 St. Joseph

St. Joseph city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in St. Joseph, MO?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the St. Joseph metro area have a median pay of $17.49 per hour, about $36,390 a year. The middle half earn between $16.63 and $19.73 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is St. Joseph a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?

St. Joseph ranks 121st of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 269th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in St. Joseph?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in St. Joseph, led by Mosaic Life Care At St Joseph. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Missouri license to work in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Buchanan 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 St. Joseph?

The federal per diem benchmark in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph?

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

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What do employers near St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph, 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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