How Much Does a CNA Make in St. Louis, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in St. Louis, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · St. Louis metro area
A typical CNA in St. Louis, Missouri earns $18.81 per hour, or $39,110 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,259 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,300, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,890.
That pay is 4% above the Missouri figure of $37,680 and 7% below the national figure of $42,260. St. Louis ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Missouri for CNA pay. About 14,620 CNAs work in the St. Louis area.
CNA pay in St. Louis at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.81 an hour, or $39,110 a year.
- That is 4% above the Missouri figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,300; the top 10% make over $46,890.
- Typical pay rose +65% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in St. Louis?
Pay in St. Louis runs from entry-level positions at around $16.97 an hour to more than $22.54 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. Louis
| Career stage | St. Louis | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,300$16.97 an hour | $31,350$15.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,180$17.88 an hour | $35,400$17.02 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,110$18.81 an hour | $37,680$18.11 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $44,630$21.46 an hour | $41,600$20.00 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,890$22.54 an hour | $45,260$21.76 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the St. Louis area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in St. Louis
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the St. Louis area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in St. Louis was $23,670 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,110, a change of +65%, compared with +64% for Missouri over the same years.
How St. Louis compares with other Missouri cities
Columbia pays CNAs the most in Missouri at $41,290 a year, $2,180 more than St. Louis. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $34,600.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs St. Louis | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | $41,290 | $19.85 | +6% | 2,040 |
| 2 | Kansas City | $39,710 | $19.09 | +2% | 13,370 |
| 3 | St. Louis | $39,110 | $18.81 | this city | 14,620 |
| 4 | Cape Girardeau | $36,650 | $17.62 | -6% | 680 |
| 5 | Springfield | $36,180 | $17.39 | -7% | 3,150 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $36,080 | $17.35 | -8% | 630 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $35,900 | $17.26 | -8% | 620 |
| 8 | Joplin | $34,600 | $16.64 | -12% | 1,180 |
Every metro area in Missouri with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $37,680
Is St. Louis a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in St. Louis earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,110 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the St. Louis 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. Louis, MO?
- A typical CNA in St. Louis earns $39,110 a year, or $18.81 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,300 and the top 10% earn over $46,890.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in St. Louis?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in St. Louis is $18.81. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.97, and the top 10% earn over $22.54 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in St. Louis?
- Entry-level CNA positions in St. Louis typically offer around $16.97 an hour, or $35,300 a year.
- Is CNA pay in St. Louis higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- St. Louis pay is 4% above the Missouri figure of $37,680 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Columbia pays the most in Missouri at $41,290.