PermanentPosted today
Nursing Assistant - Acute Care Inpatient
Veterans Health Administration · Milwaukee, WI
$40k–$65k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Milwaukee, WI
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Milwaukee area earn a median of $21.33 per hour, about $44,370 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.71 and $22.25. That ranks 66th of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 33rd of 341 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Milwaukee. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Milwaukee.
- $21.33median pay per hour, Milwaukee
- $19–$22typical range per hour
- 8,280employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Milwaukee
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55+ more Certified Nursing Assistant roles for you in Milwaukee, WI
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More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Milwaukee
6 more open roles from employers in Milwaukee. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Patient Care Technician - PCT
Fresenius Medical Care · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Certified Nursing Assistant/CNA - Job Fair ONLY
Children's Hospital and Health System · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
Per diemPosted 14 days ago
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) - Per Diem Days
Select Medical · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Patient Care Technician MedSurg Oncology
Ascension Health · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Certified Nursing Assistant Long Term Care
Ascension Health · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Patient Care Technician
Ascension Health · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
Get the Milwaukee Certified Nursing Assistant pay report
Named employers near Milwaukee, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportCertified Nursing Assistant pay in Milwaukee, WI
The metro median is 3% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $20.79 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 8,280 nursing assistants employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area, 10.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.12).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.27 | $38,000 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.71 | $38,920 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Median | $21.33 | $44,370 | 12% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.25 | $46,280 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $22.95 | $47,740 | 21% above U.S. median |
How Milwaukee ranks
- 66th of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 33rd of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd 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.
What your pay buys in Milwaukee
- Overall prices in Milwaukee-Waukesha run 3% below the U.S. average (index 96.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $21.33 median hour buys what $22.00 buys at the national price level, 16% 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 Milwaukee paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$768
- Per year: $38,394
- Per month: $3,199
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Milwaukee
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $140 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,540 |
| 13-week assignment | $20,020 |
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 Milwaukee
CMS lists 8 hospitals in Milwaukee, 2 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Se Wisconsin Hospital Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Ascension Columbia St Marys Hospital Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Ascension St Francis Hospital Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Milwaukee Va Medical Center Milwaukee, WI | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Childrens Hospital Of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Mental Health Emergency Center, Inc Milwaukee, WI | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in Milwaukee County
HRSA lists 11 active primary care shortage designations that include Milwaukee County (1 geographic, 2 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Allis, WI | 5 mi | $21.33/hr | 59,784 |
| Waukesha, WI | 15 mi | $21.33/hr | 71,461 |
| Racine, WI | 25 mi | $19.59/hr | 78,057 |
| Kenosha, WI | 33 mi | $21.56/hr | 99,578 |
| Waukegan, IL | 48 mi | $22.14/hr | 88,570 |
| Janesville, WI | 59 mi | $21.04/hr | 66,428 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Milwaukee
Milwaukee city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Milwaukee, WI?
Certified Nursing Assistants in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area have a median pay of $21.33 per hour, about $44,370 a year. The middle half earn between $18.71 and $22.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Milwaukee a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?
Milwaukee-Waukesha ranks 33rd of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 66th of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Milwaukee?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Milwaukee. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Milwaukee.
Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 11 active primary care shortage designations that include Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee?
The federal per diem benchmark in Milwaukee is $140 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,540 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 Milwaukee?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Milwaukee.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Milwaukee 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.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles 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
180+ Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Wisconsin, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your CNA pay reportMilwaukee, WI · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Veterans Health AdministrationMilwaukee, WI · 2 postings$24.93/ hr$19–$31
- Advocate HealthBurlington, WI · 2 postings$26.00/ hr$21–$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
- Nursing Assistant - Acute Care InpatientPermanent$40k–$65k/ year
- Health Unit Coordinator/Patient Care Assistant - Medical SurgicalPermanent$20.98–$29.19/ hour
+ 34 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.