NE · Grand Island · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Grand Island, NE

Pay for certified nursing assistants in the Grand Island area centers on $18.41 per hour, or about $38,280 a year. The lower quarter earns under $17.74 and the upper quarter over $21.54. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Grand Island. That ranks 185th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 55th of 341 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Grand Island.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Grand Island

PermanentPosted 13 days ago

CNA

CommonSpirit Health · Grand Island, NE

$17.24–$24.35/ hour
  • Part Time
  • Req 98476064880
View role
Per diemPosted 21 days ago

CNA Campus Float

CommonSpirit Health · Grand Island, NE

$17.24–$24.35/ hour
  • PRN
  • Req 101088142896
View role

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Grand Island

2 more open roles from employers in Grand Island. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Grand Island, NE

The metro median is 1% below the Nebraska statewide median of $18.57 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 620 nursing assistants employed in the Grand Island metro area, 15.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.75).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.00$35,36011% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.74$36,9007% below U.S. median
Median$18.41$38,2803% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.54$44,80013% above U.S. median
Top 10%$23.23$48,32022% above U.S. median

How Grand Island ranks

  • 185th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 55th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 3 Nebraska 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 Grand Island

  • Overall prices in Grand Island run 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 38% below the U.S. average (index 61.7).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.41 median hour buys what $21.24 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Grand Island paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$663
  • Per year: $33,138
  • Per month: $2,762

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

Travel assignment per diem in Grand Island

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).

Hospitals in Grand Island

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Chi Health St. Francis
Grand Island, NE
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Grand Island Regional Medical Center
Grand Island, NE
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Hall County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Hall County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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
Lincoln, NE88 mi$18.15/hr300,619
Omaha, NE122 mi$18.73/hr489,265
Bellevue, NE127 mi$18.73/hr64,777
Council Bluffs, IA132 mi$18.73/hr62,665
Sioux City, IA149 mi$18.42/hr86,875
Manhattan, KS151 mi$17.36/hr54,700

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Nebraska · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Nebraska

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

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

Nebraska state guide

Other healthcare roles in Grand Island

Grand Island city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Grand Island, NE?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Grand Island metro area have a median pay of $18.41 per hour, about $38,280 a year. The middle half earn between $17.74 and $21.54 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Grand Island ranks 55th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 185th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Grand Island?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Grand Island. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Grand Island.

Do I need a Nebraska license to work in Grand Island as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Grand Island in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Hall 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 Grand Island?

The federal per diem benchmark in Grand Island 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 Grand Island?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Grand Island and across Nebraska. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Grand Island.

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What do employers near Grand Island 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 Grand Island, NE
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthGRAND ISLAND, NE · 3 postings$20.80/ hr$17–$24
  • Avera HealthCreighton, NE · 4 postings$23.25/ hr$18–$28
  • CommonSpirit HealthBURIEN, WA · 7 postings$31.52/ hr$23–$41
  • Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Nebraska list

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$20.80High$28

7 CNA postings with published pay in Nebraska, 4 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 7 CNA roles

  1. CNAPermanent
    $17.24–$24.35/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Omaha, NE · posted 2 days ago
  2. CNAPermanent
    $17.24–$24.35/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Grand Island, NE · posted 13 days ago

+ 5 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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