How Much Does a CNA Make in Kansas City, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Kansas City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kansas City metro area
A typical CNA in Kansas City, Missouri earns $19.09 per hour, or $39,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,309 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,510, and the top 10% of earners make over $48,130.
That pay is 5% above the Missouri figure of $37,680 and 6% below the national figure of $42,260. Kansas City ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Missouri for CNA pay. About 13,370 CNAs work in the Kansas City area.
CNA pay in Kansas City at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.09 an hour, or $39,710 a year.
- That is 5% above the Missouri figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,510; the top 10% make over $48,130.
- Typical pay rose +61% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Kansas City?
Pay in Kansas City runs from entry-level positions at around $17.55 an hour to more than $23.14 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Kansas City
| Career stage | Kansas City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,510$17.55 an hour | $31,350$15.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,730$18.14 an hour | $35,400$17.02 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,710$19.09 an hour | $37,680$18.11 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,630$21.94 an hour | $41,600$20.00 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $48,130$23.14 an hour | $45,260$21.76 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kansas City area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Kansas City
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Kansas City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Kansas City was $24,680 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,710, a change of +61%, compared with +64% for Missouri over the same years.
How Kansas City compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays CNAs the most in Missouri at $41,290 a year, $1,580 more than Kansas City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $34,600.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Kansas City | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $41,290 | $19.85 | +4% | 2,040 |
| 2 | Kansas City | $39,710 | $19.09 | this city | 13,370 |
| 3 | St. Louis | $39,110 | $18.81 | -2% | 14,620 |
| 4 | Cape Girardeau | $36,650 | $17.62 | -8% | 680 |
| 5 | Springfield | $36,180 | $17.39 | -9% | 3,150 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $36,080 | $17.35 | -9% | 630 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $35,900 | $17.26 | -10% | 620 |
| 8 | Joplin | $34,600 | $16.64 | -13% | 1,180 |
Every metro area in Missouri with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $37,680
Is Kansas City a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Kansas City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,710 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kansas City area, about 12 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 Kansas City, MO?
- A typical CNA in Kansas City earns $39,710 a year, or $19.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,510 and the top 10% earn over $48,130.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Kansas City?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Kansas City is $19.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.55, and the top 10% earn over $23.14 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Kansas City?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Kansas City typically offer around $17.55 an hour, or $36,510 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Kansas City higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Kansas City pay is 5% above the Missouri figure of $37,680 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Columbia pays the most in Missouri at $41,290.