How Much Does a CNA Make in Bowling Green, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Bowling Green, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Bowling Green metro area
A typical CNA in Bowling Green, Kentucky earns $18.43 per hour, or $38,340 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,195 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,390, and the top 10% of earners make over $44,680.
That pay is right at the Kentucky figure of $38,370 and 9% below the national figure of $42,260. Bowling Green ranks 4th of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for CNA pay. About 790 CNAs work in the Bowling Green area.
CNA pay in Bowling Green at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.43 an hour, or $38,340 a year.
- That is right at the Kentucky figure, ranking 4th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,390; the top 10% make over $44,680.
- Typical pay rose +72% from 2015 to 2025, against +60% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Bowling Green?
Pay in Bowling Green runs from entry-level positions at around $14.61 an hour to more than $21.48 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Bowling Green
| Career stage | Bowling Green | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,390$14.61 an hour | $30,390$14.61 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $36,390$17.49 an hour | $36,150$17.38 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,340$18.43 an hour | $38,370$18.45 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $43,430$20.88 an hour | $44,120$21.21 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $44,680$21.48 an hour | $46,450$22.33 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Bowling Green area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Bowling Green
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Bowling Green area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Bowling Green was $22,270 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,340, a change of +72%, compared with +60% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Bowling Green compares with other Kentucky cities
Jefferson County pays CNAs the most in Kentucky at $42,220 a year, $3,880 more than Bowling Green. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $37,140.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bowling Green | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County metro incl. Louisville | $42,220 | $20.30 | +10% | 7,650 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $39,380 | $18.93 | +3% | 3,250 |
| 3 | Owensboro | $39,020 | $18.76 | +2% | 890 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $38,340 | $18.43 | this city | 790 |
| 5 | Elizabethtown | $38,030 | $18.28 | -1% | 450 |
| 6 | Paducah | $37,860 | $18.20 | -1% | 710 |
| 7 | Ashland | $37,140 | $17.86 | -3% | 1,950 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $38,370
Is Bowling Green a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Bowling Green earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,340 a year, 9% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Bowling Green area, about 9.6 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.2. 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 Bowling Green, KY?
- A typical CNA in Bowling Green earns $38,340 a year, or $18.43 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,390 and the top 10% earn over $44,680.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Bowling Green?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Bowling Green is $18.43. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.61, and the top 10% earn over $21.48 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Bowling Green?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Bowling Green typically offer around $14.61 an hour, or $30,390 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Bowling Green higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Bowling Green pay is right at the Kentucky figure of $38,370 a year, ranking 4th of 7 metro areas in the state. Jefferson County pays the most in Kentucky at $42,220.