PA · Erie · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Erie, PA

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Erie area earn a median of $18.20 per hour, about $37,850 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $17.42 and $20.77. That ranks 202nd of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 147th of 341 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Erie. The free report below lists employers near Erie and what they pay.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Erie

Get the Erie Certified Nursing Assistant pay report

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

Get my free pay report

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Erie, PA

The metro median is 8% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $19.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 1,680 nursing assistants employed in the Erie metro area, 14.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.56).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.91$35,17011% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.42$36,2308% below U.S. median
Median$18.20$37,8504% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$20.77$43,2009% above U.S. median
Top 10%$21.49$44,70013% above U.S. median

How Erie ranks

  • 202nd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 147th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 14th of 15 Pennsylvania 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 Erie

  • Overall prices in Erie run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.0, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 43% below the U.S. average (index 56.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.20 median hour buys what $20.01 buys at the national price level, 5% 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 Erie paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$655
  • Per year: $32,760
  • Per month: $2,730

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

Travel assignment per diem in Erie

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 Erie

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Erie, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Saint Vincent Hospital
Erie, PA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Upmc Hamot
Erie, PA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Lecom Medical Center And Behavioral Health Pav
Erie, PA
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5Yes
Erie Va Medical Center
Erie, PA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment 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 Erie County

HRSA lists 6 active primary care shortage designations that include Erie County (1 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 14 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
Youngstown, OH76 mi$17.97/hr59,123
Buffalo, NY82 mi$18.72/hr276,617
Cleveland, OH94 mi$18.30/hr365,379
Parma, OH99 mi$18.30/hr79,350
Cuyahoga Falls, OH100 mi$18.35/hr50,979
Akron, OH104 mi$18.35/hr189,664

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Pennsylvania

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

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

Pennsylvania state guide

Other healthcare roles in Erie

Erie city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Erie, PA?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Erie metro area have a median pay of $18.20 per hour, about $37,850 a year. The middle half earn between $17.42 and $20.77 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Erie ranks 147th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 202nd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Erie?

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

Do I need a Pennsylvania license to work in Erie as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Erie in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 6 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 Erie?

The federal per diem benchmark in Erie 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 Erie?

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

Free for every candidate

What do employers near Erie 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
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

Get your free pay report

310+ Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Pennsylvania, sent free by email

Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.

Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
That email doesn't look quite right.
Please choose your role.
Please enter your city or ZIP.

Free for candidates. No phone number, no cold calls. One-click unsubscribe.

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 Erie, PA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportErie, PA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Veterans Health AdministrationLebanon, PA · 3 postings$24.69/ hr$18–$31
  • Select MedicalJohnstown, PA · 8 postings$21.02/ hr$16–$24
  • AmedisysJohnstown, PA · 8 postings$20.50/ hr$19–$24

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

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$21.02High$24

20 CNA postings with published pay in Pennsylvania, 15 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 20 CNA roles

  1. CNA Hospice AidePermanent
    $21.00–$23.00/ hour
    Amedisys · Scottdale, PA · posted today
  2. CNA Hospice AidePermanent
    $19.00–$22.00/ hour
    Amedisys · Uniontown, PA · posted today

+ 18 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
Check my pay