PermanentPosted today
Nursing Assistant - NURSE FLOAT
Garnet Health · Middletown, NY
$27.08–$27.89/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Buffalo, NY
The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Buffalo area is $18.72 per hour ($38,940 a year), with the typical range running from $17.95 to $21.00. That ranks 158th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 185th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo. The free report below lists employers near Buffalo and what they pay.
- $18.72median pay per hour, Buffalo
- $18–$21typical range per hour
- 4,680employed in the metro area
- 96cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Buffalo, NY
The metro median is 18% below the New York statewide median of $22.79 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 4,680 nursing assistants employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area, 8.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.98).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.10 | $35,570 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.95 | $37,340 | 6% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.72 | $38,940 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.00 | $43,680 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.82 | $47,470 | 20% above U.S. median |
How Buffalo ranks
- 158th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 185th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th 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 Buffalo
- Overall prices in Buffalo-Cheektowaga run 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 19% below the U.S. average (index 81.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.72 median hour buys what $19.53 buys at the national price level, 3% 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.
Get the Buffalo Certified Nursing Assistant pay report
Named employers near Buffalo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Buffalo paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$674
- Per year: $33,696
- Per month: $2,808
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Buffalo
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $128 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,456 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,928 |
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).
Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in New York
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Buffalo as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Nursing Assistant
United Health Services · Norwich, NY
$18.56–$26.92/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
270+ more Certified Nursing Assistant roles for you in New York
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PermanentPosted today
Patient Care Tech - Float Pool - Full Time
Guthrie Healthcare System · Cortland, NY
$17.50–$26.95/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Nursing Assistant (Long Term Care)
Veterans Health Administration · Canandaigua, NY
$39k–$60k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Nurse Assistant
United Health Services · Walton, NY
$19.37–$28.09/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Patient Care Technician - PCT
Fresenius Medical Care · Port Jefferson Station, NY
$18.00–$29.00/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Buffalo
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo, 1 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upstate New York Va Healthcare System (Western Ny Va Healthcare System) Buffalo, NY | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaleida Health Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Sisters Of Charity Hospital Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Erie County Medical Center Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercy Hospital Of Buffalo Buffalo, NY | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Brylin Hosp Buffalo, NY | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Buffalo Psychiatric Center Buffalo, NY | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Erie County
HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Erie County (2 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NY | 66 mi | $19.14/hr | 207,282 |
| Erie, PA | 82 mi | $18.20/hr | 92,940 |
| Syracuse, NY | 138 mi | $19.91/hr | 146,097 |
| Youngstown, OH | 154 mi | $17.97/hr | 59,123 |
| Cleveland, OH | 174 mi | $18.30/hr | 365,379 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 179 mi | $18.85/hr | 307,668 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Buffalo
Buffalo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Buffalo, NY?
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro area have a median pay of $18.72 per hour, about $38,940 a year. The middle half earn between $17.95 and $21.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Buffalo a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?
Buffalo-Cheektowaga ranks 185th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 158th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.
Where do certified nursing assistants work in Buffalo?
CMS lists 7 hospitals in Buffalo, led by Upstate New York Va Healthcare System (Western Ny Va Healthcare System). Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a New York license to work in Buffalo 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 Buffalo in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 7 active primary care shortage designations that include Erie 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 Buffalo?
The federal per diem benchmark in Buffalo is $128 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,456 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 Buffalo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Buffalo and across New York. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Buffalo.
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What do employers near Buffalo 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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270+ Certified Nursing Assistant roles in New York, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CNA pay reportBuffalo, 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
- Nursing Assistant - NURSE FLOATPermanent$27.08–$27.89/ hour
- Nursing AssistantPermanent$18.56–$26.92/ hour
+ 25 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.