How Much Does a CNA Make in Columbia, MO 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 Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical CNA in Columbia, Missouri earns $19.85 per hour, or $41,290 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,441 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,260, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,530.
That pay is 10% above the Missouri figure of $37,680 and 2% below the national figure of $42,260. Columbia ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Missouri for CNA pay. About 2,040 CNAs work in the Columbia area.
CNA pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.85 an hour, or $41,290 a year.
- That is 10% above the Missouri figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,260; the top 10% make over $47,530.
- Typical pay rose +72% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for Missouri 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 $15.51 an hour to more than $22.85 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,260$15.51 an hour | $31,350$15.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $35,930$17.27 an hour | $35,400$17.02 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $41,290$19.85 an hour | $37,680$18.11 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $41,290$19.85 an hour | $41,600$20.00 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,530$22.85 an hour | $45,260$21.76 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Columbia 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 $24,070 a year. By 2025 it had reached $41,290, a change of +72%, compared with +64% for Missouri over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays CNAs the most of any metro area in Missouri. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $34,600.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $41,290 | $19.85 | this city | 2,040 |
| 2 | Kansas City | $39,710 | $19.09 | -4% | 13,370 |
| 3 | St. Louis | $39,110 | $18.81 | -5% | 14,620 |
| 4 | Cape Girardeau | $36,650 | $17.62 | -11% | 680 |
| 5 | Springfield | $36,180 | $17.39 | -12% | 3,150 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $36,080 | $17.35 | -13% | 630 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $35,900 | $17.26 | -13% | 620 |
| 8 | Joplin | $34,600 | $16.64 | -16% | 1,180 |
Every metro area in Missouri with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $37,680
Is Columbia a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Columbia sits close to the national figure: $41,290 a year, 2% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 19 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 Columbia, MO?
- A typical CNA in Columbia earns $41,290 a year, or $19.85 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,260 and the top 10% earn over $47,530.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Columbia is $19.85. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.51, and the top 10% earn over $22.85 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Columbia?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Columbia typically offer around $15.51 an hour, or $32,260 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 10% above the Missouri figure of $37,680 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.