How Much Does a CNA Make in St. Joseph, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in St. Joseph, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · St. Joseph metro area
A typical CNA in St. Joseph, Missouri earns $17.26 per hour, or $35,900 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,992 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,090, and the top 10% of earners make over $43,550.
That pay is 5% below the Missouri figure of $37,680 and 15% below the national figure of $42,260. St. Joseph ranks 7th of 8 metro areas in Missouri for CNA pay. About 620 CNAs work in the St. Joseph area.
CNA pay in St. Joseph at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.26 an hour, or $35,900 a year.
- That is 5% below the Missouri figure, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,090; the top 10% make over $43,550.
- Typical pay rose +81% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in St. Joseph?
Pay in St. Joseph runs from entry-level positions at around $14.46 an hour to more than $20.94 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in St. Joseph
| Career stage | St. Joseph | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,090$14.46 an hour | $31,350$15.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $34,950$16.80 an hour | $35,400$17.02 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $35,900$17.26 an hour | $37,680$18.11 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $39,710$19.09 an hour | $41,600$20.00 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $43,550$20.94 an hour | $45,260$21.76 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the St. Joseph area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in St. Joseph
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the St. Joseph area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in St. Joseph was $19,800 a year. By 2025 it had reached $35,900, a change of +81%, compared with +64% for Missouri over the same years.
How St. Joseph compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays CNAs the most in Missouri at $41,290 a year, $5,390 more than St. Joseph. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $34,600.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs St. Joseph | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $41,290 | $19.85 | +15% | 2,040 |
| 2 | Kansas City | $39,710 | $19.09 | +11% | 13,370 |
| 3 | St. Louis | $39,110 | $18.81 | +9% | 14,620 |
| 4 | Cape Girardeau | $36,650 | $17.62 | +2% | 680 |
| 5 | Springfield | $36,180 | $17.39 | +1% | 3,150 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $36,080 | $17.35 | +1% | 630 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $35,900 | $17.26 | this city | 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 St. Joseph a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in St. Joseph earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $35,900 a year, 15% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the St. Joseph area, about 11 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 St. Joseph, MO?
- A typical CNA in St. Joseph earns $35,900 a year, or $17.26 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,090 and the top 10% earn over $43,550.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in St. Joseph?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in St. Joseph is $17.26. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.46, and the top 10% earn over $20.94 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in St. Joseph?
- Entry-level CNA positions in St. Joseph typically offer around $14.46 an hour, or $30,090 a year.
- Is CNA pay in St. Joseph higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- St. Joseph pay is 5% below the Missouri figure of $37,680 a year, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state. Columbia pays the most in Missouri at $41,290.