How Much Does a CNA Make in Rochester, MN in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Rochester, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Minnesota.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rochester metro area
A typical CNA in Rochester, Minnesota earns $22.52 per hour, or $46,840 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,903 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,340, and the top 10% of earners make over $53,820.
That pay is right at the Minnesota figure of $46,680 and 11% above the national figure of $42,260. Rochester ranks 2nd of 6 metro areas in Minnesota for CNA pay. About 1,550 CNAs work in the Rochester area.
CNA pay in Rochester at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.52 an hour, or $46,840 a year.
- That is right at the Minnesota figure, ranking 2nd of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,340; the top 10% make over $53,820.
- Typical pay rose +60% from 2015 to 2025, against +68% for Minnesota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Rochester?
Pay in Rochester runs from entry-level positions at around $18.43 an hour to more than $25.87 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Minnesota and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Rochester
| Career stage | Rochester | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,340$18.43 an hour | $38,010$18.27 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,960$19.21 an hour | $40,340$19.39 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $46,840$22.52 an hour | $46,680$22.44 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,880$22.54 an hour | $49,330$23.72 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $53,820$25.87 an hour | $55,410$26.64 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rochester area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Rochester
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Rochester area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Rochester was $29,210 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,840, a change of +60%, compared with +68% for Minnesota over the same years.
How Rochester compares with other Minnesota cities
Minneapolis pays CNAs the most in Minnesota at $48,020 a year, $1,180 more than Rochester. The lowest-paying area in the state is St. Cloud at $40,130.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rochester | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis | $48,020 | $23.09 | +3% | 14,590 |
| 2 | Rochester | $46,840 | $22.52 | this city | 1,550 |
| 3 | Mankato | $46,430 | $22.32 | -1% | 930 |
| 4 | Duluth | $44,250 | $21.27 | -6% | 1,610 |
| 5 | Onalaska | $43,510 | $20.92 | -7% | 1,250 |
| 6 | St. Cloud | $40,130 | $19.29 | -14% | 1,580 |
Every metro area in Minnesota with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Minnesota typical pay $46,680
Is Rochester a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Rochester earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $46,840 a year, 11% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rochester area, about 13 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 Rochester, MN?
- A typical CNA in Rochester earns $46,840 a year, or $22.52 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,340 and the top 10% earn over $53,820.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Rochester?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Rochester is $22.52. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.43, and the top 10% earn over $25.87 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Rochester?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Rochester typically offer around $18.43 an hour, or $38,340 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Rochester higher than in the rest of Minnesota?
- Rochester pay is right at the Minnesota figure of $46,680 a year, ranking 2nd of 6 metro areas in the state. Minneapolis pays the most in Minnesota at $48,020.