How Much Does a CNA Make in Lexington, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Lexington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lexington · Fayette metro area
A typical CNA in Lexington, Kentucky earns $18.93 per hour, or $39,380 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,282 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,090, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,930.
That pay is 3% above the Kentucky figure of $38,370 and 7% below the national figure of $42,260. Lexington ranks 2nd of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for CNA pay. About 3,250 CNAs work in the Lexington · Fayette area. Lexington is part of the Lexington · Fayette metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Fayette share these figures.
CNA pay in Lexington at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.93 an hour, or $39,380 a year.
- That is 3% above the Kentucky figure, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,090; the top 10% make over $46,930.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +60% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Lexington?
Pay in Lexington runs from entry-level positions at around $15.91 an hour to more than $22.56 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Lexington
| Career stage | Lexington | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,090$15.91 an hour | $30,390$14.61 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $36,500$17.55 an hour | $36,150$17.38 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,380$18.93 an hour | $38,370$18.45 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $44,770$21.53 an hour | $44,120$21.21 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,930$22.56 an hour | $46,450$22.33 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lexington · Fayette area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Lexington
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Lexington · Fayette area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Lexington was $26,490 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,380, a change of +49%, compared with +60% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Lexington compares with other Kentucky cities
Jefferson County pays CNAs the most in Kentucky at $42,220 a year, $2,840 more than Lexington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $37,140.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lexington | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County metro incl. Louisville | $42,220 | $20.30 | +7% | 7,650 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $39,380 | $18.93 | this city | 3,250 |
| 3 | Owensboro | $39,020 | $18.76 | -1% | 890 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $38,340 | $18.43 | -3% | 790 |
| 5 | Elizabethtown | $38,030 | $18.28 | -3% | 450 |
| 6 | Paducah | $37,860 | $18.20 | -4% | 710 |
| 7 | Ashland | $37,140 | $17.86 | -6% | 1,950 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $38,370
Is Lexington a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Lexington earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,380 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lexington · Fayette area, about 11 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Lexington, KY?
- A typical CNA in Lexington earns $39,380 a year, or $18.93 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $33,090 and the top 10% earn over $46,930.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Lexington?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Lexington is $18.93. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.91, and the top 10% earn over $22.56 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Lexington?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Lexington typically offer around $15.91 an hour, or $33,090 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Lexington higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Lexington pay is 3% above the Kentucky figure of $38,370 a year, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state. Jefferson County pays the most in Kentucky at $42,220.