NY · Rochester · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Rochester, NY

The median certified nursing assistant pay in the Rochester area is $19.14 per hour ($39,800 a year), with the typical range running from $18.45 to $22.32. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Rochester. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Rochester. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Rochester.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Rochester

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Rochester, 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 5,240 nursing assistants employed in the Rochester metro area, 10.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.18).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.70$36,8207% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.45$38,3803% below U.S. median
Median$19.14$39,8001% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.32$46,43017% above U.S. median
Top 10%$24.05$50,02027% above U.S. median

How Rochester ranks

  • 124th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 169th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th 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 Rochester

  • Overall prices in Rochester run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $19.14 median hour buys what $19.72 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.

Estimate your Rochester paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$689
  • Per year: $34,452
  • Per month: $2,871

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

Travel assignment per diem in Rochester

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$132
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,484
13-week assignment$19,292

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 Rochester

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Rochester, 0 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Highland Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Strong Memorial Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Rochester General Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Unity Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Unity Specialty Hospital
Rochester, NY
Acute careNonprofitNot ratedNo
Rochester Psychiatric Center
Rochester, NY
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Monroe County

HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Monroe County (2 population-group, 6 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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
Buffalo, NY66 mi$18.72/hr276,617
Syracuse, NY75 mi$19.91/hr146,097
Utica, NY121 mi$18.66/hr63,660
Erie, PA145 mi$18.20/hr92,940
Scranton, PA158 mi$18.67/hr75,905
Schenectady, NY188 mi$19.16/hr69,495

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 Rochester

Rochester city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

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

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Rochester metro area have a median pay of $19.14 per hour, about $39,800 a year. The middle half earn between $18.45 and $22.32 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Rochester ranks 169th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 124th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Rochester?

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

Do I need a New York license to work in Rochester 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 Rochester in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Monroe 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 Rochester?

The federal per diem benchmark in Rochester is $132 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,484 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 Rochester?

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

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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Pay report · CNA near Rochester, NY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportRochester, 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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