How Much Does a CNA Make in Columbus, IN 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 Indiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbus metro area
A typical CNA in Columbus, Indiana earns $18.39 per hour, or $38,260 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,188 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,850, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,170.
That pay is right at the Indiana figure of $38,330 and 9% below the national figure of $42,260. Columbus ranks 6th of 14 metro areas in Indiana for CNA pay. About 230 CNAs work in the Columbus area.
CNA pay in Columbus at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.39 an hour, or $38,260 a year.
- That is right at the Indiana figure, ranking 6th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,850; the top 10% make over $46,170.
- Typical pay rose +69% from 2015 to 2025, against +63% for Indiana 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 $17.72 an hour to more than $22.20 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Indiana and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Columbus
| Career stage | Columbus | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,850$17.72 an hour | $35,390$17.01 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,230$17.90 an hour | $37,020$17.80 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,260$18.39 an hour | $38,330$18.43 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $40,460$19.45 an hour | $44,420$21.36 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,170$22.20 an hour | $46,890$22.54 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 $22,580 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,260, a change of +69%, compared with +63% for Indiana over the same years.
How Columbus compares with other Indiana cities
Elgin pays CNAs the most in Indiana at $46,940 a year, $8,680 more than Columbus. The lowest-paying area in the state is Terre Haute at $36,360.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbus | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elgin metro incl. Naperville | $46,940 | $22.57 | +23% | 45,850 |
| 2 | Jefferson County | $42,220 | $20.30 | +10% | 7,650 |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $38,880 | $18.69 | +2% | 9,730 |
| 4 | Mishawaka metro incl. South Bend | $38,550 | $18.54 | +1% | 1,520 |
| 5 | Michigan City metro incl. La Porte | $38,400 | $18.46 | 0% | 340 |
| 6 | Columbus | $38,260 | $18.39 | this city | 230 |
| 7 | Kokomo | $38,250 | $18.39 | 0% | 460 |
| 8 | Goshen metro incl. Elkhart | $38,150 | $18.34 | 0% | 840 |
| 9 | Lafayette metro incl. West Lafayette | $37,760 | $18.16 | -1% | 770 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne | $37,210 | $17.89 | -3% | 3,610 |
| 11 | Evansville | $37,180 | $17.87 | -3% | 2,030 |
| 12 | Muncie | $37,080 | $17.83 | -3% | 700 |
| 13 | Bloomington | $36,820 | $17.70 | -4% | 830 |
| 14 | Terre Haute | $36,360 | $17.48 | -5% | 720 |
Every metro area in Indiana with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Indiana typical pay $38,330
Is Columbus a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Columbus earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,260 a year, 9% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbus area, about 4.6 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.2. That makes CNAs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Columbus, IN?
- A typical CNA in Columbus earns $38,260 a year, or $18.39 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,850 and the top 10% earn over $46,170.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Columbus?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Columbus is $18.39. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.72, and the top 10% earn over $22.20 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Columbus?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Columbus typically offer around $17.72 an hour, or $36,850 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Columbus higher than in the rest of Indiana?
- Columbus pay is right at the Indiana figure of $38,330 a year, ranking 6th of 14 metro areas in the state. Elgin pays the most in Indiana at $46,940.