CNA Salary

Kansas City vs St. Charles: Certified Nursing Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare certified nursing assistant salaries between Kansas City, MO and St. Charles, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Kansas City, MO
$42,291
$20.33/hr
St. Charles, MO
$39,215
$18.85/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKansas City, MOSt. Charles, MO
Median Salary$42,291$39,215
Hourly Rate$20.33$18.85
Entry Level (P10)$38,883$31,412
25th Percentile$40,182$34,220
75th Percentile$48,596$43,335
Top Earner (P90)$51,258$46,940
Total Employed13,37016
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Kansas City ($42,291) and St. Charles ($39,215) certified nursing assistant salaries.Kansas CitySt. CharlesMedian Salary$42,291$39,215Entry Level (P10)$38,883$31,412Top Earner (P90)$51,258$46,940US Median $45,007

Verdict

Kansas City, MO offers better overall compensation for certified nursing assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Charles.

The salary gap between Kansas City and St. Charles is $3,076 (7.84%). Kansas City's median is -6.03% compared to the US national median of $45,007.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Kansas City spans $12,375,St. Charles spans $15,528. St. Charles has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced certified nursing assistants.

Kansas City
P10 (Entry)$38,883
P25$40,182
Median$42,291
P75$48,596
P90 (Top)$51,258
St. Charles
P10 (Entry)$31,412
P25$34,220
Median$39,215
P75$43,335
P90 (Top)$46,940

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Kansas City ($45,699 effective) pays 4.41% more than St. Charles ($43,767 effective).

Kansas City
Nominal: $42,291
CoL Index: 92.543
Adjusted: $45,699
St. Charles
Nominal: $39,215
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $43,767

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Kansas City if…

  • Higher median salary ($42,291/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($51,258)
  • Larger job market (13,370 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $45,699)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Charles if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, certified nursing assistant salaries in Kansas City grew 41.8% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 31.1% growth in St. Charles over the same period.

Kansas City, MO

+41.8%

$28,000 (2019) → $39,710 (2025)

St. Charles, MO

+31.1%

$28,087 (2024) → $36,822 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays certified nursing assistants more: Kansas City or St. Charles?

Kansas City has a higher median certified nursing assistant salary at $42,291/year, compared to St. Charles at $39,215/year — a difference of $3,076 (7.84%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Kansas City and St. Charles?

Kansas City certified nursing assistants earn $20.33/hr while St. Charles hygienists earn $18.85/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Kansas City to St. Charles as a certified nursing assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Kansas City and St. Charles. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Kansas City = $45,699, St. Charles = $43,767), job availability (13,370 vs 16 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level certified nursing assistants earn in Kansas City vs St. Charles?

Entry-level (10th percentile) certified nursing assistants earn $38,883 in Kansas City and $31,412 in St. Charles. The Kansas City area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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Written by Emily Chen, BSN, RN

Career Analyst

Emily has over 10 years of experience in nursing. She focuses on workforce trends in nursing. Emily has worked in various healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Rodriguez, CNAData verified by Sara Patel, RN

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 6.50% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Emily Chen, BSN, RN, a licensed certified nursing assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov