How Much Does a CNA Make in Jefferson City, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Jefferson City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Jefferson City metro area
A typical CNA in Jefferson City, Missouri earns $17.35 per hour, or $36,080 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,007 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,060, and the top 10% of earners make over $42,830.
That pay is 4% below the Missouri figure of $37,680 and 15% below the national figure of $42,260. Jefferson City ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in Missouri for CNA pay. About 630 CNAs work in the Jefferson City area.
CNA pay in Jefferson City at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.35 an hour, or $36,080 a year.
- That is 4% below the Missouri figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,060; the top 10% make over $42,830.
- Typical pay rose +41% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Jefferson City?
Pay in Jefferson City runs from entry-level positions at around $14.45 an hour to more than $20.59 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Jefferson City
| Career stage | Jefferson City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,060$14.45 an hour | $31,350$15.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $35,370$17.01 an hour | $35,400$17.02 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $36,080$17.35 an hour | $37,680$18.11 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $38,240$18.39 an hour | $41,600$20.00 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $42,830$20.59 an hour | $45,260$21.76 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Jefferson City area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Jefferson City
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Jefferson City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Jefferson City was $25,620 a year. By 2025 it had reached $36,080, a change of +41%, compared with +64% for Missouri over the same years.
How Jefferson City compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays CNAs the most in Missouri at $41,290 a year, $5,210 more than Jefferson City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $34,600.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Jefferson City | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $41,290 | $19.85 | +14% | 2,040 |
| 2 | Kansas City | $39,710 | $19.09 | +10% | 13,370 |
| 3 | St. Louis | $39,110 | $18.81 | +8% | 14,620 |
| 4 | Cape Girardeau | $36,650 | $17.62 | +2% | 680 |
| 5 | Springfield | $36,180 | $17.39 | 0% | 3,150 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $36,080 | $17.35 | this city | 630 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $35,900 | $17.26 | 0% | 620 |
| 8 | Joplin | $34,600 | $16.64 | -4% | 1,180 |
Every metro area in Missouri with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $37,680
Is Jefferson City a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Jefferson City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $36,080 a year, 15% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Jefferson City area, about 7.9 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes CNAs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Jefferson City, MO?
- A typical CNA in Jefferson City earns $36,080 a year, or $17.35 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,060 and the top 10% earn over $42,830.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Jefferson City?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Jefferson City is $17.35. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.45, and the top 10% earn over $20.59 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Jefferson City?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Jefferson City typically offer around $14.45 an hour, or $30,060 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Jefferson City higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Jefferson City pay is 4% below the Missouri figure of $37,680 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Columbia pays the most in Missouri at $41,290.