WI · Appleton · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Appleton, WI

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Appleton area earn a median of $19.18 per hour, about $39,900 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.32 and $21.65. That ranks 120th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 86th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Appleton. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Appleton.

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Appleton

7 more open roles from employers in Appleton. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 17 days ago

Patient Care Tech

Ascension Health · Appleton, WI

Pay range with your report
  • Full Time
  • Req 1317049
View role

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Appleton, WI

The metro median is 8% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $20.79 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 930 nursing assistants employed in the Appleton metro area, 7.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.83).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.69$36,8007% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.32$38,1104% below U.S. median
Median$19.18$39,9001% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.65$45,03014% above U.S. median
Top 10%$22.70$47,22019% above U.S. median

How Appleton ranks

  • 120th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 86th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 11th of 12 Wisconsin 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.

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

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What your pay buys in Appleton

  • Overall prices in Appleton run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 70.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $19.18 median hour buys what $20.75 buys at the national price level, 9% 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 Appleton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$690
  • Per year: $34,524
  • Per month: $2,877

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

Travel assignment per diem in Appleton

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).

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Wisconsin

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Appleton as they open.

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Wisconsin

Hospitals in Appleton

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus
Appleton, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Thedacare Regional Medical Center - Appleton Inc
Appleton, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Outagamie County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Outagamie County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 13 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
Oshkosh, WI20 mi$19.29/hr67,242
Green Bay, WI26 mi$20.56/hr106,311
Milwaukee, WI87 mi$21.33/hr563,531
Waukesha, WI88 mi$21.33/hr71,461
West Allis, WI90 mi$21.33/hr59,784
Madison, WI97 mi$20.97/hr285,300

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Wisconsin · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

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

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

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in Appleton

Appleton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Appleton, WI?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Appleton metro area have a median pay of $19.18 per hour, about $39,900 a year. The middle half earn between $18.32 and $21.65 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Appleton ranks 86th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 120th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do certified nursing assistants work in Appleton?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Appleton, led by Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Appleton as a certified nursing assistant?

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

Is Appleton in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Outagamie 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 Appleton?

The federal per diem benchmark in Appleton 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 Appleton?

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

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    What they are offering now

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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 Appleton, WI
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportAppleton, WI · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Advocate HealthBurlington, WI · 2 postings$26.00/ hr$21–$31
  • Veterans Health AdministrationMilwaukee, WI · 2 postings$24.93/ hr$19–$31
  • Mayo ClinicEau Claire, WI · 7 postings$23.66/ hr$20–$29
  • MercyWisconsin · 6 postings$22.19/ hr$17–$29

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

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$21.60High$27

36 CNA postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 35 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 36 CNA roles

  1. Nursing Assistant - Acute Care InpatientPermanent
    $40k–$65k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI · posted today
  2. Health Unit Coordinator/Patient Care Assistant - Medical SurgicalPermanent
    $20.98–$29.19/ hour
    Mayo Clinic · Barron, WI · posted today

+ 34 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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