Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Great Falls, MT
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Great Falls area earn a median of $18.36 per hour, about $38,200 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.36 and $21.53. That ranks 191st of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 229th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Great Falls. The free report below lists employers near Great Falls and what they pay.
- $18.36median pay per hour, Great Falls
- $18–$22typical range per hour
- 510employed in the metro area
- 97cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Great Falls, MT
The metro median is 3% below the Montana statewide median of $18.89 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 510 nursing assistants employed in the Great Falls metro area, 13.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.53).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.63 | $36,670 | 7% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.36 | $38,190 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.36 | $38,200 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.53 | $44,780 | 13% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.45 | $46,700 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Great Falls ranks
- 191st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 229th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 5 Montana 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 Great Falls
- Overall prices in Great Falls run 3% below the U.S. average (index 96.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.36 median hour buys what $18.96 buys at the national price level, in line with 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.
Get the Great Falls Certified Nursing Assistant pay report
Named employers near Great Falls, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Great Falls paycheck
- Per year: $33,048
- Per month: $2,754
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Great Falls metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Great Falls
| Item | Federal 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).
Hospitals in Great Falls
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Great Falls, 0 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benefis Hospitals Inc Great Falls, MT | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Great Falls Clinic Hospital Great Falls, MT | Acute care | For-profit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Cascade County
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Cascade County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 126 mi | $22.08/hr | 57,894 |
| Missoula, MT | 135 mi | $19.42/hr | 78,204 |
| Billings, MT | 176 mi | $19.79/hr | 121,483 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 256 mi | $18.53/hr | 57,355 |
| Spokane Valley, WA | 277 mi | $22.20/hr | 108,267 |
| Spokane, WA | 286 mi | $22.20/hr | 230,609 |
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Montana · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Montana
State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Montana requires for your role with the Montana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Montana taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Great Falls
Great Falls city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Great Falls, MT?
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Great Falls metro area have a median pay of $18.36 per hour, about $38,200 a year. The middle half earn between $18.36 and $21.53 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Great Falls a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?
Great Falls ranks 229th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 191st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Where do certified nursing assistants work in Great Falls?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Great Falls, led by Benefis Hospitals Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Montana license to work in Great Falls as a certified nursing assistant?
State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Montana requires for your role with the Montana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Great Falls in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Cascade 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 Great Falls?
The federal per diem benchmark in Great Falls 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 Great Falls?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Great Falls and across Montana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Great Falls.
What do employers near Great Falls 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.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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30+ Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Montana, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your CNA pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Montana list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Riverside Health Care CenterMissoula, MT · 1 wage offer$14.74/ hr$15–$15
- 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
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Montana list
2What they are offering now
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 CNA roles
Open CNA roles near Great Falls, MT, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.