SD · Yankton · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Yankton, SD

Certified Nursing Assistants in South Dakota earn a median of $18.30 per hour, about $38,070 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $16.83 and $19.93. That is 4% below the U.S. median of $19.01 per hour. 6 open roles with published pay are listed for Yankton. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Yankton.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Yankton

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Yankton, SD

Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 6,520 nursing assistants employed in South Dakota.

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$14.41$29,97024% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$16.83$35,01011% below U.S. median
Median$18.30$38,0704% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$19.93$41,4505% above U.S. median
Top 10%$21.67$45,07014% above U.S. median

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.

Estimate your Yankton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$659
  • Per year: $32,940
  • Per month: $2,745
  • South Dakota has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for South Dakota. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Yankton

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 Yankton

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Yankton, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
Yankton, SD
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
South Dakota Human Services Center
Yankton, SD
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 Yankton County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Yankton County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 6 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
Sioux Falls, SD56 mi$18.30/hr209,289
Sioux City, IA58 mi$18.42/hr86,875
Omaha, NE132 mi$18.73/hr489,265
Council Bluffs, IA139 mi$18.73/hr62,665
Bellevue, NE142 mi$18.73/hr64,777
Grand Island, NE145 mi$18.41/hr53,250

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in South Dakota · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in South Dakota

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

South Dakota does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

South Dakota state guide

Other healthcare roles in Yankton

Yankton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Yankton, SD?

Certified Nursing Assistants in South Dakota have a median pay of $18.30 per hour, about $38,070 a year. The middle half earn between $16.83 and $19.93 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Yankton?

We list 6 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Yankton. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Yankton.

Do I need a South Dakota license to work in Yankton as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Yankton in a shortage area?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Yankton 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 Yankton?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Yankton and across South Dakota. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Yankton.

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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 Yankton, SD
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

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

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Avera HealthPierre, SD · 55 postings$22.88/ hr$18–$28
  • 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

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

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$22.88High$26

56 CNA postings with published pay in South Dakota, 23 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 56 CNA roles

  1. Nursing Assistant or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | Long Term CarePermanent
    $19.75–$27.50/ hour
    Avera Health · Yankton, SD · posted yesterday
  2. Patient Care Technician | Discharge LoungePermanent
    $18.00–$23.50/ hour
    Avera Health · Sioux Falls, SD · posted yesterday

+ 54 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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