How Much Does a CNA Make in Grand Island, NE in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Grand Island, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Nebraska.
BLS OES May 2025 · Grand Island metro area
A typical CNA in Grand Island, Nebraska earns $18.69 per hour, or $38,880 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,240 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,660, and the top 10% of earners make over $48,350.
That pay is 3% below the Nebraska figure of $40,000 and 8% below the national figure of $42,260. Grand Island ranks 2nd of 3 metro areas in Nebraska for CNA pay. About 590 CNAs work in the Grand Island area.
CNA pay in Grand Island at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.69 an hour, or $38,880 a year.
- That is 3% below the Nebraska figure, ranking 2nd of 3 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,660; the top 10% make over $48,350.
- Typical pay rose +65% from 2015 to 2025, against +66% for Nebraska as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Grand Island?
Pay in Grand Island runs from entry-level positions at around $17.63 an hour to more than $23.25 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Nebraska and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Grand Island
| Career stage | Grand Island | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,660$17.63 an hour | $37,090$17.83 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,220$17.90 an hour | $38,030$18.29 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,880$18.69 an hour | $40,000$19.23 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,240$22.23 an hour | $46,410$22.31 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $48,350$23.25 an hour | $48,980$23.55 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Grand Island area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Grand Island
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Grand Island area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Grand Island was $23,600 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,880, a change of +65%, compared with +66% for Nebraska over the same years.
How Grand Island compares with other Nebraska cities
Omaha pays CNAs the most in Nebraska at $40,020 a year, $1,140 more than Grand Island. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lincoln at $38,650.
Is Grand Island a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Grand Island earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,880 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Grand Island area, about 15 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 Grand Island, NE?
- A typical CNA in Grand Island earns $38,880 a year, or $18.69 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,660 and the top 10% earn over $48,350.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Grand Island?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Grand Island is $18.69. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.63, and the top 10% earn over $23.25 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Grand Island?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Grand Island typically offer around $17.63 an hour, or $36,660 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Grand Island higher than in the rest of Nebraska?
- Grand Island pay is 3% below the Nebraska figure of $40,000 a year, ranking 2nd of 3 metro areas in the state. Omaha pays the most in Nebraska at $40,020.