How Much Does a CNA Make in Louisville, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Louisville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Louisville/Jefferson County metro area
A typical CNA in Louisville, Kentucky earns $20.30 per hour, or $42,220 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,518 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,360, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,260.
That pay is 10% above the Kentucky figure of $38,370 and right at the national figure of $42,260. Louisville ranks 1st of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for CNA pay. About 7,650 CNAs work in the Louisville/Jefferson County area. Louisville is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Jefferson County share these figures.
CNA pay in Louisville at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.30 an hour, or $42,220 a year.
- That is 10% above the Kentucky figure, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,360; the top 10% make over $47,260.
- Typical pay rose +61% from 2015 to 2025, against +60% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Louisville?
Pay in Louisville runs from entry-level positions at around $17.00 an hour to more than $22.72 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Louisville
| Career stage | Louisville | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,360$17.00 an hour | $30,390$14.61 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,870$18.21 an hour | $36,150$17.38 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $42,220$20.30 an hour | $38,370$18.45 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,910$22.07 an hour | $44,120$21.21 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,260$22.72 an hour | $46,450$22.33 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Louisville/Jefferson County area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Louisville
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Louisville/Jefferson County area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Louisville was $26,190 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,220, a change of +61%, compared with +60% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Louisville compares with other Kentucky cities
Louisville pays CNAs the most of any metro area in Kentucky. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $37,140.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Louisville | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $42,220 | $20.30 | this city | 7,650 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $39,380 | $18.93 | -7% | 3,250 |
| 3 | Owensboro | $39,020 | $18.76 | -8% | 890 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $38,340 | $18.43 | -9% | 790 |
| 5 | Elizabethtown | $38,030 | $18.28 | -10% | 450 |
| 6 | Paducah | $37,860 | $18.20 | -10% | 710 |
| 7 | Ashland | $37,140 | $17.86 | -12% | 1,950 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $38,370
Is Louisville a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Louisville sits close to the national figure: $42,220 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Louisville/Jefferson County 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 Louisville, KY?
- A typical CNA in Louisville earns $42,220 a year, or $20.30 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,360 and the top 10% earn over $47,260.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Louisville?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Louisville is $20.30. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.00, and the top 10% earn over $22.72 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Louisville?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Louisville typically offer around $17.00 an hour, or $35,360 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Louisville higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Louisville pay is 10% above the Kentucky figure of $38,370 a year, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.