Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in St. Cloud, MN: $42,738 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time certified nursing assistant in St. Cloud, MN earns a median $42,738/year (≈ $20.54/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-1131). Once you factor in St. Cloud's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.6), that paycheck buys what $48,770 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 13.6% below the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Cloud, MN, the 2026 certified nursing assistant salary is projected at $42,738 annually, slightly below the national median of $45,007. This figure illustrates the post-COVID wage adjustments that have formed a new baseline for many healthcare positions in the region. With salaries ranging from $40,300 at the 10th percentile to $59,299 for those at the 90th percentile, there is a substantial range of earning potential for certified nursing assistants. The data, derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, points to the area's competitive market for healthcare workers, especially in light of the growing demand following the pandemic.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40,300 | $19.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,481 | $19.46 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $42,738 | $20.54 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $49,288 | $23.70 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $59,299 | $28.51 |
Median Salary Position
5.04% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Cloud
In St. Cloud, MN, the certified nursing assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $18,999 (2026 est.). At $42,738, the local median is 5.04% below the national median of $45,007.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Cloud: You'd be in the entry-level range
How St. Cloud Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Compares
St. Cloud median: $42,738/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Cloud Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $49,466 | -13.60% less |
| National Average | $45,007 | -5.04% less |
Certified Nursing Assistants in St. Cloud, MN earn a median of $42,738 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.04% lower than the national median of $45,007 and 13.60% below the Minnesota state average of $49,466.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Cloud has a cost of living 12.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Cloud, MN has a cost-of-living index of 87.632 (below the national average of 100). A certified nursing assistant earning $42,738 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $48,770 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.11% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$35,700
2025 BLS Actual
$40,130
2026 Current Est.
$42,738
2019–2027 Growth
+27.5%
Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35,700 | Actual |
| 2020 | $33,160 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,970 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,680 | Actual |
| 2024 | $39,090 | Actual |
| 2025 | $40,130 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $42,738 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $45,516 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Cloud metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 12.4% from $35,700 (2019) to $40,130 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $45,516 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,816 (27.50%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Cloud 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) | $40,300 – $40,481 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,481 – $42,738 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $42,738 – $49,288 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $49,288 – $59,299 |
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 St. Cloud
Within the context of St. Cloud's job market, there are currently about 1,580 certified nursing assistants employed. The cost of living index sits at 87.632, indicating that living expenses are lower than the national average, which can enhance the take-home purchasing power of local workers. Among various employers, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals tend to offer the most lucrative positions, capitalizing on staffing needs to provide competitive pay. Factors such as shift differentials, with night shifts typically earning an additional $2-4 per hour and weekend shifts attracting premiums of $1-3, contribute to the earnings gap. Those seeking to maximize their certified nursing assistant pay in St. Cloud, MN, may find value in pursuing CMA certification or seeking weekend-only premium roles, both of which can significantly boost overall compensation.
More salary data for St. Cloud, MN:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in St. Cloud, MN in 2026?
Is St. Cloud, MN a good place to work as a certified nursing assistant?
Can certified nursing assistants make $100K in St. Cloud?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted certified nursing assistant salary in St. Cloud?
How much does a certified nursing assistant make per hour in St. Cloud?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Minnesota
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 $40,130 for certified nursing assistantsin the St. Cloud 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