How Much Does a CNA Make in Cleveland, OH in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Cleveland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Ohio.
BLS OES May 2025 · Cleveland metro area
A typical CNA in Cleveland, Ohio earns $18.76 per hour, or $39,010 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,251 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,480, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,710.
That pay is right at the Ohio figure of $39,010 and 8% below the national figure of $42,260. Cleveland ranks 7th of 13 metro areas in Ohio for CNA pay. About 13,060 CNAs work in the Cleveland area.
CNA pay in Cleveland at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.76 an hour, or $39,010 a year.
- That is right at the Ohio figure, ranking 7th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,480; the top 10% make over $46,710.
- Typical pay rose +55% from 2015 to 2025, against +62% for Ohio as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Cleveland?
Pay in Cleveland runs from entry-level positions at around $17.06 an hour to more than $22.46 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Ohio and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Cleveland
| Career stage | Cleveland | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,480$17.06 an hour | $35,060$16.86 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,850$18.20 an hour | $37,300$17.93 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,010$18.76 an hour | $39,010$18.76 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,000$21.64 an hour | $44,590$21.44 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,710$22.46 an hour | $46,570$22.39 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Cleveland area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Cleveland
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Cleveland area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Cleveland was $25,100 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,010, a change of +55%, compared with +62% for Ohio over the same years.
How Cleveland compares with other Ohio cities
Columbus pays CNAs the most in Ohio at $42,970 a year, $3,960 more than Cleveland. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $36,190.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cleveland | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $42,970 | $20.66 | +10% | 10,020 |
| 2 | Beavercreek | $41,670 | $20.03 | +7% | 4,970 |
| 3 | Cincinnati | $40,350 | $19.40 | +3% | 11,390 |
| 4 | Toledo | $39,700 | $19.09 | +2% | 3,590 |
| 5 | Mansfield | $39,380 | $18.94 | +1% | 600 |
| 6 | Akron | $39,250 | $18.87 | +1% | 3,170 |
| 7 | Cleveland | $39,010 | $18.76 | this city | 13,060 |
| 8 | Springfield | $38,020 | $18.28 | -3% | 720 |
| 9 | Sandusky | $37,910 | $18.22 | -3% | 560 |
| 10 | Canton metro incl. Massillon | $37,840 | $18.19 | -3% | 2,360 |
| 11 | Lima | $37,360 | $17.96 | -4% | 690 |
| 12 | Youngstown metro incl. Warren | $37,050 | $17.81 | -5% | 2,360 |
| 13 | Steubenville | $36,190 | $17.40 | -7% | 660 |
Every metro area in Ohio with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Ohio typical pay $39,010
Is Cleveland a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Cleveland earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,010 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Cleveland area, about 13 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 Cleveland, OH?
- A typical CNA in Cleveland earns $39,010 a year, or $18.76 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,480 and the top 10% earn over $46,710.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Cleveland?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Cleveland is $18.76. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.06, and the top 10% earn over $22.46 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Cleveland?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Cleveland typically offer around $17.06 an hour, or $35,480 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Cleveland higher than in the rest of Ohio?
- Cleveland pay is right at the Ohio figure of $39,010 a year, ranking 7th of 13 metro areas in the state. Columbus pays the most in Ohio at $42,970.