NY · Albany · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Albany, NY

The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Albany area is $19.16 per hour ($39,860 a year), with the typical range running from $17.44 to $21.00. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Albany. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Albany. The free report below lists employers near Albany and what they pay.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Albany

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Albany, NY

The metro median is 16% below the New York statewide median of $22.79 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 4,060 nursing assistants employed in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy metro area, 9.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.02).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.71$34,76012% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.44$36,2808% below U.S. median
Median$19.16$39,8601% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.00$43,68010% above U.S. median
Top 10%$22.19$46,16017% above U.S. median

How Albany ranks

  • 121st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 212th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th of 11 New York 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 Albany

  • Overall prices in Albany-Schenectady-Troy run in line with the U.S. average (index 99.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 3% above the U.S. average (index 102.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $19.16 median hour buys what $19.24 buys at the national price level, 1% 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 Albany paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$690
  • Per year: $34,488
  • Per month: $2,874

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

Travel assignment per diem in Albany

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$117
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,421
13-week assignment$18,473

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).

Hospitals in Albany

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Albany, 0 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Albany Va Medical Center
Albany, NY
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
St Peter's Hospital
Albany, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Albany Medical Center Hospital
Albany, NY
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Capital District Psych Center
Albany, NY
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 Albany County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Albany County (1 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Troy, NY8 mi$19.16/hr51,065
Schenectady, NY11 mi$19.16/hr69,495
Chicopee, MA71 mi$19.82/hr55,381
Springfield, MA75 mi$19.82/hr154,888
Utica, NY78 mi$18.66/hr63,660
Bristol, CT81 mi$21.40/hr62,195

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in New York · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in New York

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

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

New York state guide

Other healthcare roles in Albany

Albany city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Albany, NY?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy metro area have a median pay of $19.16 per hour, about $39,860 a year. The middle half earn between $17.44 and $21.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Albany-Schenectady-Troy ranks 212th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 121st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run in line with the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Albany?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Albany. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Albany.

Do I need a New York license to work in Albany as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Albany in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Albany 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 Albany?

The federal per diem benchmark in Albany is $117 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,421 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 Albany?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Albany and across New York. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Albany.

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    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 Albany, NY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportAlbany, NY · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Garnet HealthMiddletown, NY · 2 postings$27.48/ hr$27–$28
  • Veterans Health AdministrationCanandaigua, NY · 3 postings$23.84/ hr$17–$34
  • United Health ServicesWalton, NY · 5 postings$23.73/ hr$17–$28
  • Fresenius Medical CareSyracuse, NY · 13 postings$23.50/ hr$15–$32

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$23.50High$29

27 CNA postings with published pay in New York, 27 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 27 CNA roles

  1. Nursing Assistant - NURSE FLOATPermanent
    $27.08–$27.89/ hour
    Garnet Health · Middletown, NY · posted today
  2. Nursing AssistantPermanent
    $18.56–$26.92/ hour
    United Health Services · Norwich, NY · posted today

+ 25 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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