Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY: $44,964 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time certified nursing assistant in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY earns a median $44,964/year (≈ $21.62/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-1131). Once you factor in Louisville/Jefferson County's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.1), that paycheck buys what $48,310 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.2% above the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $44,964, slightly below the national median of $45,007. Salary ranges for this profession in the area span from $37,658 at the 10th percentile to $50,332 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the variance in pay that can result from employment setting and individual experience. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, indicate that while working in skilled nursing facilities often yields reliable hourly pay, hospitals, particularly in critical care units, may offer higher compensation options due to increased demands and responsibilities. Understanding these dynamics is essential for job seekers in the local healthcare market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,658 | $18.11 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,332 | $19.39 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $44,964 | $21.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48,894 | $23.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50,332 | $24.20 |
Median Salary Position
0.1% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Louisville/Jefferson County
In Louisville/Jefferson County, KY, the certified nursing assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $12,674 (2026 est.). At $44,964, the local median is 0.1% below the national median of $45,007.
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How Louisville/Jefferson County Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Compares
Louisville/Jefferson County median: $44,964/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Louisville/Jefferson County Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $41,176 | +9.20% more |
| National Average | $45,007 | -0.10% less |
Certified Nursing Assistants in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY earn a median of $44,964 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.10% lower than the national median of $45,007 and 9.20% above the Kentucky state average of $41,176.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Louisville/Jefferson County has a cost of living 6.93% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY has a cost-of-living index of 93.074 (below the national average of 100). A certified nursing assistant earning $44,964 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $48,310 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.44% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$29,040
2025 BLS Actual
$42,220
2026 Current Est.
$44,964
2019–2027 Growth
+64.9%
Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in Louisville/Jefferson County (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29,040 | Actual |
| 2020 | $29,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $29,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $34,660 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,610 | Actual |
| 2024 | $38,360 | Actual |
| 2025 | $42,220 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $44,964 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $47,887 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Louisville/Jefferson County metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 45.4% from $29,040 (2019) to $42,220 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $47,887 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,847 (64.90%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Louisville/Jefferson County 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) | $37,658 – $40,332 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,332 – $44,964 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $44,964 – $48,894 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $48,894 – $50,332 |
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 Louisville/Jefferson County
The job market for certified nursing assistants remains robust in Louisville/Jefferson County, with approximately 7,650 CNAs currently employed in the area. The cost-of-living index in the region stands at 93.074, suggesting that take-home earnings afford more purchasing power compared to higher-cost markets. Among local employers, hospitals tend to offer some of the highest pay, particularly for CNAs working in medical/surgical floors or intensive care units. Factors affecting the pay range include shift differentials, with night shifts often offering an increase of $2-4 per hour, and weekend shifts adding around $1-3. Additionally, CNAs can enhance their earning potential by seeking roles in higher-acuity facilities or capitalizing on agency opportunities during staffing shortages. Exploring certifications like CMA can also yield stipends, broadening salary opportunities and providing a pathway towards advancing into higher nursing roles.
More salary data for Louisville/Jefferson County, KY:
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 $42,220 for certified nursing assistantsin the Louisville/Jefferson County 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