NE · Lincoln · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Lincoln, NE

The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Lincoln area is $18.15 per hour ($37,750 a year), with the typical range running from $17.83 to $21.49. That ranks 206th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 163rd of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Lincoln. The free report below lists employers near Lincoln and what they pay.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Lincoln, NE

The metro median is 2% below the Nebraska statewide median of $18.57 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 2,810 nursing assistants employed in the Lincoln metro area, 15.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.72).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.31$36,0009% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.83$37,0906% below U.S. median
Median$18.15$37,7505% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.49$44,70013% above U.S. median
Top 10%$22.59$46,99019% above U.S. median

How Lincoln ranks

  • 206th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 163rd of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd 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 Lincoln

  • Overall prices in Lincoln run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 84.2).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.15 median hour buys what $19.82 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Lincoln, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Lincoln paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$653
  • Per year: $32,670
  • Per month: $2,722

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

Travel assignment per diem in Lincoln

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 Nebraska

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

PermanentPosted 2 days ago

CNA

CommonSpirit Health · Omaha, NE

$17.24–$24.35/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101925753488
New this week
View role
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

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Nebraska

Hospitals in Lincoln

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lincoln, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Chi Health Nebraska Heart
Lincoln, NE
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5No
Chi Health St. Elizabeth
Lincoln, NE
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Bryan Medical Center
Lincoln, NE
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Lincoln Surgical Hospital
Lincoln, NE
Acute careFor-profitNot ratedNo
Lincoln Regional Center
Lincoln, NE
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 Lancaster County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Lancaster County (3 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
Bellevue, NE45 mi$18.73/hr64,777
Omaha, NE45 mi$18.73/hr489,265
Council Bluffs, IA52 mi$18.73/hr62,665
Grand Island, NE88 mi$18.41/hr53,250
Manhattan, KS112 mi$17.36/hr54,700
Sioux City, IA117 mi$18.42/hr86,875

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 Lincoln

Lincoln city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Lincoln, NE?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Lincoln metro area have a median pay of $18.15 per hour, about $37,750 a year. The middle half earn between $17.83 and $21.49 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Lincoln ranks 163rd of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 206th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Lincoln?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Lincoln, led by Chi Health Nebraska Heart. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Nebraska license to work in Lincoln 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 Lincoln in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Lancaster 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 Lincoln?

The federal per diem benchmark in Lincoln 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 Lincoln?

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

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What do employers near Lincoln 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

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
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Pay report · CNA near Lincoln, 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

  • Avera HealthCreighton, NE · 4 postings$23.25/ hr$18–$28
  • CommonSpirit HealthGRAND ISLAND, NE · 3 postings$20.80/ hr$17–$24
  • 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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