RI · Pawtucket · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Pawtucket, RI

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Pawtucket area earn a median of $20.88 per hour, about $43,430 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.73 and $22.40. That ranks 83rd of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 98th of 341 once local prices are factored in. 14 open roles with published pay are listed for Pawtucket and its metro area. The free report below lists employers near Pawtucket and what they pay.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles near Pawtucket

Roles in other cities of the Providence-Warwick area.

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Pawtucket, RI

The metro median is 2% below the Rhode Island statewide median of $21.23 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 11,180 nursing assistants employed in the Providence-Warwick metro area, 15.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.76).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.33$38,1304% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.73$38,9601% below U.S. median
Median$20.88$43,43010% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.40$46,59018% above U.S. median
Top 10%$23.80$49,50025% above U.S. median

How Pawtucket ranks

  • 83rd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 98th of 341 after adjusting for local prices

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 Pawtucket

  • Overall prices in Providence-Warwick run 2% above the U.S. average (index 101.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $20.88 median hour buys what $20.52 buys at the national price level, 8% 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 Pawtucket paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$752
  • Per year: $37,584
  • Per month: $3,132

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

Travel assignment per diem in Pawtucket

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$154
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,638
13-week assignment$21,294

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 the Providence-Warwick area

CMS lists 13 hospitals in the Providence-Warwick area, 5 of the 10 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Providence Va Medical Center
Providence, RI
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, RI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Southcoast Hospitals Group
Fall River, MA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
The Miriam Hospital
Providence, RI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Women & Infants Hospital Of Rhode Island
Providence, RI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kent County Memorial Hospital
Warwick, RI
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Roger Williams Medical Center
Providence, RI
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Saint Anne's Hospital
Fall River, MA
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Attleboro, MA
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Brown University Health Morton Hospital
Taunton, MA
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Providence County

HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Providence County (3 population-group, 5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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
Providence, RI4 mi$20.88/hr194,706
Cranston, RI9 mi$20.88/hr84,448
Brockton, MA23 mi$22.17/hr105,788
Framingham, MA30 mi$22.17/hr73,361
Weymouth Town, MA32 mi$22.17/hr60,159
Quincy, MA33 mi$22.17/hr103,434

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Rhode Island · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Rhode Island

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

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

Rhode Island state guide

Other healthcare roles in Pawtucket

Pawtucket city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Pawtucket, RI?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Providence-Warwick metro area have a median pay of $20.88 per hour, about $43,430 a year. The middle half earn between $18.73 and $22.40 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Providence-Warwick ranks 98th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 83rd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Pawtucket?

We list 14 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in the Providence-Warwick area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Pawtucket.

Do I need a Rhode Island license to work in Pawtucket as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Pawtucket in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 8 active primary care shortage designations that include Providence 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 Pawtucket?

The federal per diem benchmark in Pawtucket is $154 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 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 Pawtucket?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Pawtucket and across Rhode Island. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Pawtucket.

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What do employers near Pawtucket pay certified nursing assistants? Get the report.

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

Your CNA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Rhode Island list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthBURIEN, WA · 7 postings$31.52/ hr$23–$41
  • Emanate HealthCovina, CA · 6 postings$28.75/ hr$21–$34
  • MultiCareTacoma, WA · 105 postings$28.55/ hr$21–$44
  • Fresenius Medical CareSan Francisco, CA · 4 postings$28.00/ hr$25–$35

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Rhode Island list

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$22.88High$30

1426 CNA postings with published pay in the US, 1213 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 CNA roles

  1. CNA Hospice AidePer diem
    $25.00–$27.00/ hour
    Amedisys · North Kingstown, RI · posted 23 days ago

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