How Much Does a CNA Make in Lincoln, NE in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Lincoln, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Nebraska.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lincoln metro area
A typical CNA in Lincoln, Nebraska earns $18.58 per hour, or $38,650 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,221 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,060, and the top 10% of earners make over $48,310.
That pay is 3% below the Nebraska figure of $40,000 and 9% below the national figure of $42,260. Lincoln ranks 3rd of 3 metro areas in Nebraska for CNA pay. About 2,630 CNAs work in the Lincoln area.
CNA pay in Lincoln at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.58 an hour, or $38,650 a year.
- That is 3% below the Nebraska figure, ranking 3rd of 3 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,060; the top 10% make over $48,310.
- Typical pay rose +57% from 2015 to 2025, against +66% for Nebraska as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Lincoln?
Pay in Lincoln runs from entry-level positions at around $17.82 an hour to more than $23.23 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Nebraska and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Lincoln
| Career stage | Lincoln | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,060$17.82 an hour | $37,090$17.83 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,680$18.12 an hour | $38,030$18.29 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,650$18.58 an hour | $40,000$19.23 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,490$21.87 an hour | $46,410$22.31 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $48,310$23.23 an hour | $48,980$23.55 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lincoln area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Lincoln
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Lincoln area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Lincoln was $24,650 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,650, a change of +57%, compared with +66% for Nebraska over the same years.
How Lincoln compares with other Nebraska cities
Omaha pays CNAs the most in Nebraska at $40,020 a year, $1,370 more than Lincoln. The lowest-paying area in the state is Lincoln at $38,650.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lincoln | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha | $40,020 | $19.24 | +4% | 7,740 |
| 2 | Grand Island | $38,880 | $18.69 | +1% | 590 |
| 3 | Lincoln | $38,650 | $18.58 | this city | 2,630 |
Every metro area in Nebraska with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Nebraska typical pay $40,000
Is Lincoln a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Lincoln earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,650 a year, 9% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lincoln area, about 14 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 Lincoln, NE?
- A typical CNA in Lincoln earns $38,650 a year, or $18.58 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,060 and the top 10% earn over $48,310.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Lincoln?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Lincoln is $18.58. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.82, and the top 10% earn over $23.23 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Lincoln?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Lincoln typically offer around $17.82 an hour, or $37,060 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Lincoln higher than in the rest of Nebraska?
- Lincoln pay is 3% below the Nebraska figure of $40,000 a year, ranking 3rd of 3 metro areas in the state. Omaha pays the most in Nebraska at $40,020.