Average Nursing Assistant Salary in Kentucky

Nursing assistants (also called certified nursing assistants or CNAs) provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. They work under the supervision of licensed nurses in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health settings. The BLS median salary is $38,130, reflecting the role's typical requirement of only a brief state-approved training program. However, CNAs are the backbone of long-term care delivery — they spend more direct contact hours with patients than any other healthcare worker — and demand is growing rapidly due to the aging US population.

In Kentucky, nursing assistants earn an average of $35,448 per year as of 2026, with salaries ranging from $23,256 for entry-level roles to $52,024 for the most experienced professionals — +7.2% below the national average. Pay is influenced most by state and geographic location — california and washington cnas earn median wages 40–60% above the national median, shift differentials — evening, overnight, and weekend shifts add $2–$5/hour to base pay, and the specific metro area within Kentucky.