How Much Does a CNA Make in Columbus, GA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Columbus, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Georgia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbus metro area
A typical CNA in Columbus, Georgia earns $16.81 per hour, or $34,970 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,914 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,220, and the top 10% of earners make over $41,930.
That pay is 7% below the Georgia figure of $37,680 and 17% below the national figure of $42,260. Columbus ranks 12th of 13 metro areas in Georgia for CNA pay. About 1,130 CNAs work in the Columbus area.
CNA pay in Columbus at a glance
- Typical pay is $16.81 an hour, or $34,970 a year.
- That is 7% below the Georgia figure, ranking 12th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,220; the top 10% make over $41,930.
- Typical pay rose +61% from 2015 to 2025, against +71% for Georgia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Columbus?
Pay in Columbus runs from entry-level positions at around $14.05 an hour to more than $20.16 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Georgia and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Columbus
| Career stage | Columbus | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $29,220$14.05 an hour | $30,300$14.57 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $31,000$14.90 an hour | $35,490$17.06 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $34,970$16.81 an hour | $37,680$18.12 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $37,080$17.83 an hour | $42,980$20.66 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $41,930$20.16 an hour | $47,310$22.74 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbus area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Columbus
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Columbus area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Columbus was $21,720 a year. By 2025 it had reached $34,970, a change of +61%, compared with +71% for Georgia over the same years.
How Columbus compares with other Georgia cities
Gainesville pays CNAs the most in Georgia at $41,390 a year, $6,420 more than Columbus. The lowest-paying area in the state is Valdosta at $34,040.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbus | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gainesville | $41,390 | $19.90 | +18% | 1,050 |
| 2 | Sandy Springs | $39,350 | $18.92 | +13% | 23,260 |
| 3 | Savannah | $38,450 | $18.48 | +10% | 1,710 |
| 4 | Warner Robins | $37,500 | $18.03 | +7% | 380 |
| 5 | Rome | $37,220 | $17.90 | +6% | 890 |
| 6 | Augusta metro incl. Richmond County | $37,140 | $17.86 | +6% | 2,560 |
| 7 | Macon metro incl. Bibb County | $36,540 | $17.57 | +4% | 1,450 |
| 8 | Clarke County metro incl. Athens | $36,330 | $17.47 | +4% | 1,110 |
| 9 | Dalton | $36,110 | $17.36 | +3% | 390 |
| 10 | St. Simons metro incl. Brunswick | $35,940 | $17.28 | +3% | 590 |
| 11 | Albany | $35,260 | $16.95 | +1% | 770 |
| 12 | Columbus | $34,970 | $16.81 | this city | 1,130 |
| 13 | Valdosta | $34,040 | $16.36 | -3% | 470 |
Every metro area in Georgia with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Georgia typical pay $37,680
Is Columbus a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Columbus earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $34,970 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbus area, about 9.7 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Columbus, GA?
- A typical CNA in Columbus earns $34,970 a year, or $16.81 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $29,220 and the top 10% earn over $41,930.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Columbus?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Columbus is $16.81. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.05, and the top 10% earn over $20.16 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Columbus?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Columbus typically offer around $14.05 an hour, or $29,220 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Columbus higher than in the rest of Georgia?
- Columbus pay is 7% below the Georgia figure of $37,680 a year, ranking 12th of 13 metro areas in the state. Gainesville pays the most in Georgia at $41,390.