How Much Does a CNA Make in Bismarck, ND in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Bismarck, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Dakota.
BLS OES May 2025 · Bismarck metro area
A typical CNA in Bismarck, North Dakota earns $22.46 per hour, or $46,720 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,893 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,040, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,120.
That pay is 2% above the North Dakota figure of $45,820 and 11% above the national figure of $42,260. Bismarck ranks 1st of 4 metro areas in North Dakota for CNA pay. About 1,430 CNAs work in the Bismarck area.
CNA pay in Bismarck at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.46 an hour, or $46,720 a year.
- That is 2% above the North Dakota figure, ranking 1st of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,040; the top 10% make over $49,120.
- Typical pay rose +60% from 2015 to 2025, against +58% for North Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Bismarck?
Pay in Bismarck runs from entry-level positions at around $17.33 an hour to more than $23.62 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Dakota and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Bismarck
| Career stage | Bismarck | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,040$17.33 an hour | $35,130$16.89 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,350$17.96 an hour | $36,410$17.51 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $46,720$22.46 an hour | $45,820$22.03 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,190$23.17 an hour | $47,950$23.06 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,120$23.62 an hour | $51,380$24.70 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Bismarck area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Bismarck
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Bismarck area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Bismarck was $29,140 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,720, a change of +60%, compared with +58% for North Dakota over the same years.
How Bismarck compares with other North Dakota cities
Bismarck pays CNAs the most of any metro area in North Dakota. The lowest-paying area in the state is Minot at $36,500.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bismarck | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bismarck | $46,720 | $22.46 | this city | 1,430 |
| 2 | Grand Forks | $45,740 | $21.99 | -2% | 930 |
| 3 | Fargo | $39,940 | $19.20 | -15% | 2,240 |
| 4 | Minot | $36,500 | $17.55 | -22% | 430 |
Every metro area in North Dakota with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Dakota typical pay $45,820
Is Bismarck a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Bismarck earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $46,720 a year, 11% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Bismarck area, about 20 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 Bismarck, ND?
- A typical CNA in Bismarck earns $46,720 a year, or $22.46 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,040 and the top 10% earn over $49,120.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Bismarck?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Bismarck is $22.46. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.33, and the top 10% earn over $23.62 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Bismarck?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Bismarck typically offer around $17.33 an hour, or $36,040 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Bismarck higher than in the rest of North Dakota?
- Bismarck pay is 2% above the North Dakota figure of $45,820 a year, ranking 1st of 4 metro areas in the state.