How Much Does a CNA Make in Columbus, OH in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Columbus, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Ohio.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbus metro area
A typical CNA in Columbus, Ohio earns $20.66 per hour, or $42,970 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,581 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,510, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,230.
That pay is 10% above the Ohio figure of $39,010 and 2% above the national figure of $42,260. Columbus ranks 1st of 13 metro areas in Ohio for CNA pay. About 10,020 CNAs work in the Columbus area.
CNA pay in Columbus at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.66 an hour, or $42,970 a year.
- That is 10% above the Ohio figure, ranking 1st of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,510; the top 10% make over $47,230.
- Typical pay rose +77% from 2015 to 2025, against +62% for Ohio as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Columbus?
Pay in Columbus runs from entry-level positions at around $18.03 an hour to more than $22.71 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Ohio and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Columbus
| Career stage | Columbus | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,510$18.03 an hour | $35,060$16.86 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,230$18.38 an hour | $37,300$17.93 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $42,970$20.66 an hour | $39,010$18.76 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,030$22.13 an hour | $44,590$21.44 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,230$22.71 an hour | $46,570$22.39 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbus area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Columbus
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Columbus area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Columbus was $24,230 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,970, a change of +77%, compared with +62% for Ohio over the same years.
How Columbus compares with other Ohio cities
Columbus pays CNAs the most of any metro area in Ohio. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $36,190.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbus | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $42,970 | $20.66 | this city | 10,020 |
| 2 | Beavercreek | $41,670 | $20.03 | -3% | 4,970 |
| 3 | Cincinnati | $40,350 | $19.40 | -6% | 11,390 |
| 4 | Toledo | $39,700 | $19.09 | -8% | 3,590 |
| 5 | Mansfield | $39,380 | $18.94 | -8% | 600 |
| 6 | Akron | $39,250 | $18.87 | -9% | 3,170 |
| 7 | Cleveland | $39,010 | $18.76 | -9% | 13,060 |
| 8 | Springfield | $38,020 | $18.28 | -12% | 720 |
| 9 | Sandusky | $37,910 | $18.22 | -12% | 560 |
| 10 | Canton metro incl. Massillon | $37,840 | $18.19 | -12% | 2,360 |
| 11 | Lima | $37,360 | $17.96 | -13% | 690 |
| 12 | Youngstown metro incl. Warren | $37,050 | $17.81 | -14% | 2,360 |
| 13 | Steubenville | $36,190 | $17.40 | -16% | 660 |
Every metro area in Ohio with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Ohio typical pay $39,010
Is Columbus a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Columbus sits close to the national figure: $42,970 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbus area, about 9.1 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Columbus, OH?
- A typical CNA in Columbus earns $42,970 a year, or $20.66 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,510 and the top 10% earn over $47,230.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Columbus?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Columbus is $20.66. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.03, and the top 10% earn over $22.71 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Columbus?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Columbus typically offer around $18.03 an hour, or $37,510 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Columbus higher than in the rest of Ohio?
- Columbus pay is 10% above the Ohio figure of $39,010 a year, ranking 1st of 13 metro areas in the state.