How Much Does a CNA Make in Columbia, MD in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Maryland.
BLS OES May 2025 · Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area
A typical CNA in Columbia, Maryland earns $20.56 per hour, or $42,770 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,564 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,180, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,940.
That pay is 1% below the Maryland figure of $43,240 and 1% above the national figure of $42,260. Columbia ranks 3rd of 5 metro areas in Maryland for CNA pay. About 13,580 CNAs work in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area. Columbia is part of the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Towson and Baltimore share these figures.
CNA pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.56 an hour, or $42,770 a year.
- That is 1% below the Maryland figure, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,180; the top 10% make over $47,940.
- Typical pay rose +52% from 2015 to 2025, against +54% for Maryland as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $16.91 an hour to more than $23.05 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Maryland and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,180$16.91 an hour | $36,060$17.34 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,220$18.37 an hour | $38,400$18.46 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $42,770$20.56 an hour | $43,240$20.79 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $44,990$21.63 an hour | $45,760$22.00 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,940$23.05 an hour | $49,330$23.72 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Columbia was $28,200 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,770, a change of +52%, compared with +54% for Maryland over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Maryland cities
Alexandria pays CNAs the most in Maryland at $45,730 a year, $2,960 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Salisbury at $38,740.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria | $45,730 | $21.99 | +7% | 25,520 |
| 2 | Lexington Park | $44,270 | $21.29 | +4% | 620 |
| 3 | Columbia | $42,770 | $20.56 | this city | 13,580 |
| 4 | Martinsburg metro incl. Hagerstown | $41,870 | $20.13 | -2% | 970 |
| 5 | Salisbury | $38,740 | $18.62 | -9% | 830 |
Every metro area in Maryland with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Maryland typical pay $43,240
Is Columbia a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Columbia sits close to the national figure: $42,770 a year, 1% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Baltimore · Columbia · Towson area, about 10 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. 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 Columbia, MD?
- A typical CNA in Columbia earns $42,770 a year, or $20.56 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,180 and the top 10% earn over $47,940.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Columbia is $20.56. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.91, and the top 10% earn over $23.05 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Columbia?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Columbia typically offer around $16.91 an hour, or $35,180 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Maryland?
- Columbia pay is 1% below the Maryland figure of $43,240 a year, ranking 3rd of 5 metro areas in the state. Alexandria pays the most in Maryland at $45,730.