Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Ames, IA: $46,370 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time certified nursing assistant in Ames, IA earns a median $46,370/year (≈ $22.29/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-1131). Once you factor in Ames's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.8), that paycheck buys what $52,201 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.0% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, certified nursing assistants in Ames, Iowa, can expect a median annual salary of $46,370, which surpasses the national median of $45,007 by 3.03%. The salary range for these positions spans from $39,416 at the lower tenth percentile to $52,100 at the upper ninetieth percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, highlights the competitive pay landscape for CNAs in Ames, particularly in skilled nursing facilities compared to hospitals. As healthcare needs continue to rise in this mid-sized city, CNAs may find more opportunities and greater financial incentives, especially in settings where higher acuity care is needed.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,416 | $18.95 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41,024 | $19.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $50,183 | $24.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $52,100 | $25.05 |
Median Salary Position
3.03% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ames
In Ames, IA, the certified nursing assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $12,684 (2026 est.). At $46,370, the local median is 3.03% above the national median of $45,007.
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At 40 hours/week in Ames: You'd be above the median
How Ames Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Compares
Ames median: $46,370/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Ames Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $41,775 | +11.00% more |
| National Average | $45,007 | +3.03% more |
Certified Nursing Assistants in Ames, IA earn a median of $46,370 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.03% higher than the national median of $45,007 and 11.00% above the Iowa state average of $41,775.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Ames has a cost of living 11.17% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Ames, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.83 (below the national average of 100). A certified nursing assistant earning $46,370 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $52,201 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.57% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$29,280
2025 BLS Actual
$43,540
2026 Current Est.
$46,370
2019–2027 Growth
+68.7%
Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in Ames (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29,280 | Actual |
| 2020 | $29,950 | Actual |
| 2021 | $30,420 | Actual |
| 2022 | $34,470 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,640 | Actual |
| 2024 | $39,110 | Actual |
| 2025 | $43,540 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $46,370 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $49,384 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ames metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 48.7% from $29,280 (2019) to $43,540 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $49,384 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,104 (68.66%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ames metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 6.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $39,416 – $41,024 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $41,024 – $46,370 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $46,370 – $50,183 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $50,183 – $52,100 |
CNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual certified nursing assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Certified Nursing Assistant Job Market in Ames
With approximately 770 certified nursing assistants employed in the Ames area, the local job market remains robust. The cost-of-living index in Ames is 88.83, which is below the national average; this effectively increases the purchasing power of CNAs in the region. Among the leading employers, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals tend to offer the highest pay, especially for night shifts and weekends, which can add between $1 and $4 per hour. The disparities in compensation are influenced by factors such as agency premium pay during staffing shortages and the benefits of obtaining certification or pursuing advanced qualifications. For CNAs in Ames, maximizing pay may involve seeking weekend-only positions, pursuing certifications like the CMA, and strategically choosing shifts that offer higher pay differentials.
More salary data for Ames, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $43,540 for certified nursing assistantsin the Ames metropolitan area. A 6.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for certified nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131).
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