How Much Does a CNA Make in Owensboro, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Owensboro, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Owensboro metro area
A typical CNA in Owensboro, Kentucky earns $18.76 per hour, or $39,020 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,252 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,850, and the top 10% of earners make over $45,260.
That pay is 2% above the Kentucky figure of $38,370 and 8% below the national figure of $42,260. Owensboro ranks 3rd of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for CNA pay. About 890 CNAs work in the Owensboro area.
CNA pay in Owensboro at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.76 an hour, or $39,020 a year.
- That is 2% above the Kentucky figure, ranking 3rd of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,850; the top 10% make over $45,260.
- Typical pay rose +76% from 2015 to 2025, against +60% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Owensboro?
Pay in Owensboro runs from entry-level positions at around $15.79 an hour to more than $21.76 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Owensboro
| Career stage | Owensboro | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,850$15.79 an hour | $30,390$14.61 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $32,850$15.79 an hour | $36,150$17.38 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,020$18.76 an hour | $38,370$18.45 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $39,110$18.80 an hour | $44,120$21.21 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $45,260$21.76 an hour | $46,450$22.33 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Owensboro area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Owensboro
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Owensboro area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Owensboro was $22,220 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,020, a change of +76%, compared with +60% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Owensboro compares with other Kentucky cities
Jefferson County pays CNAs the most in Kentucky at $42,220 a year, $3,200 more than Owensboro. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $37,140.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Owensboro | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County metro incl. Louisville | $42,220 | $20.30 | +8% | 7,650 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $39,380 | $18.93 | +1% | 3,250 |
| 3 | Owensboro | $39,020 | $18.76 | this city | 890 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $38,340 | $18.43 | -2% | 790 |
| 5 | Elizabethtown | $38,030 | $18.28 | -3% | 450 |
| 6 | Paducah | $37,860 | $18.20 | -3% | 710 |
| 7 | Ashland | $37,140 | $17.86 | -5% | 1,950 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $38,370
Is Owensboro a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Owensboro earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,020 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Owensboro area, about 18 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 Owensboro, KY?
- A typical CNA in Owensboro earns $39,020 a year, or $18.76 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,850 and the top 10% earn over $45,260.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Owensboro?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Owensboro is $18.76. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.79, and the top 10% earn over $21.76 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Owensboro?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Owensboro typically offer around $15.79 an hour, or $32,850 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Owensboro higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Owensboro pay is 2% above the Kentucky figure of $38,370 a year, ranking 3rd of 7 metro areas in the state. Jefferson County pays the most in Kentucky at $42,220.