How Much Does a CNA Make in Waukesha, WI in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Waukesha, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Wisconsin.
BLS OES May 2025 · Milwaukee · Waukesha metro area
A typical CNA in Waukesha, Wisconsin earns $21.97 per hour, or $45,690 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,808 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,850, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,160.
That pay is 1% above the Wisconsin figure of $45,130 and 8% above the national figure of $42,260. Waukesha ranks 5th of 14 metro areas in Wisconsin for CNA pay. About 7,880 CNAs work in the Milwaukee · Waukesha area. Waukesha is part of the Milwaukee · Waukesha metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Milwaukee share these figures.
CNA pay in Waukesha at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.97 an hour, or $45,690 a year.
- That is 1% above the Wisconsin figure, ranking 5th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,850; the top 10% make over $49,160.
- Typical pay rose +72% from 2015 to 2025, against +68% for Wisconsin as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Waukesha?
Pay in Waukesha runs from entry-level positions at around $18.68 an hour to more than $23.63 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Wisconsin and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Waukesha
| Career stage | Waukesha | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,850$18.68 an hour | $37,900$18.22 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $41,930$20.16 an hour | $39,580$19.03 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,690$21.97 an hour | $45,130$21.70 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,990$23.07 an hour | $47,320$22.75 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,160$23.63 an hour | $50,650$24.35 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Milwaukee · Waukesha area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Waukesha
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Milwaukee · Waukesha area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Waukesha was $26,530 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,690, a change of +72%, compared with +68% for Wisconsin over the same years.
How Waukesha compares with other Wisconsin cities
St. Paul pays CNAs the most in Wisconsin at $48,020 a year, $2,330 more than Waukesha. The lowest-paying area in the state is Janesville at $39,730.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waukesha | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Paul metro incl. Bloomington | $48,020 | $23.09 | +5% | 14,590 |
| 2 | Sheboygan | $47,050 | $22.62 | +3% | 520 |
| 3 | Kenosha | $46,220 | $22.22 | +1% | 710 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant metro incl. Racine | $45,710 | $21.97 | 0% | 620 |
| 5 | Waukesha metro incl. Milwaukee | $45,690 | $21.97 | this city | 7,880 |
| 6 | Madison | $45,260 | $21.76 | -1% | 3,420 |
| 7 | Appleton | $44,760 | $21.52 | -2% | 980 |
| 8 | Oshkosh metro incl. Neenah | $44,590 | $21.44 | -2% | 900 |
| 9 | Fond du Lac | $44,490 | $21.39 | -3% | 520 |
| 10 | Wausau | $43,660 | $20.99 | -4% | 710 |
| 11 | Onalaska metro incl. La Crosse | $43,510 | $20.92 | -5% | 1,250 |
| 12 | Green Bay | $43,450 | $20.89 | -5% | 1,700 |
| 13 | Eau Claire | $43,150 | $20.75 | -6% | 1,100 |
| 14 | Beloit metro incl. Janesville | $39,730 | $19.10 | -13% | 710 |
Every metro area in Wisconsin with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin typical pay $45,130
Is Waukesha a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Waukesha earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $45,690 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Milwaukee · Waukesha area, about 9.6 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 Waukesha, WI?
- A typical CNA in Waukesha earns $45,690 a year, or $21.97 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,850 and the top 10% earn over $49,160.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Waukesha?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Waukesha is $21.97. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.68, and the top 10% earn over $23.63 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Waukesha?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Waukesha typically offer around $18.68 an hour, or $38,850 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Waukesha higher than in the rest of Wisconsin?
- Waukesha pay is 1% above the Wisconsin figure of $45,130 a year, ranking 5th of 14 metro areas in the state. St. Paul pays the most in Wisconsin at $48,020.