Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in San Antonio, TX
Certified nursing assistants in San Antonio earn a metro median of about $17.70 an hour, and University Hospital posts nursing attendant roles at $17.85 to $19.75. Training takes as little as three months. Here are the current CNA openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified in Texas.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in San Antonio, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Certified Nursing Assistant Work in San Antonio
San Antonio's CNA jobs fall into three groups. Hospitals in the Medical Center and downtown hire aides for trauma ICU, emergency, med-surg and neonatal units, with University Hospital alone listing more than a dozen nursing attendant openings. Rehabilitation hospitals such as Encompass Health on Cinnamon Hill Drive need aides to help patients recover mobility. Senior living and skilled nursing campuses, including The Village at Incarnate Word on Broadway, hire CNAs for resident care, often on PRN schedules.
Veterans care adds steady demand. The Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital on Merton Minter Boulevard says it is always hiring nursing assistants, and federal jobs there come with government benefits. CHRISTUS has posted CNA roles at its Westover Hills hospital on State Highway 151 and at CHRISTUS Children's downtown, both requiring a CNA certification and BLS.
Top San Antonio Employers Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants
These San Antonio employers hire CNAs and nursing attendants through their own careers sites:
- University Health - posts nursing attendant roles at University Hospital at $17.85 to $19.75 an hour, and PRN roles up to $21.50.
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System - the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital is always hiring nursing assistants through USAJOBS.
- Encompass Health - the rehabilitation hospital on Cinnamon Hill Drive has a nursing assistant opening posted.
- The Village at Incarnate Word - the Broadway senior living campus hires PRN CNAs and CMAs for its DeMatel House skilled nursing unit.
- CHRISTUS Health - posts CNA roles at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Westover Hills and CHRISTUS Children's, including 12-hour night shifts.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in San Antonio
- Entry level: about $15 to $17 an hour for newly certified aides, especially in long-term care.
- Experienced: roughly $17.50 to $20 an hour, the range University Hospital posts for nursing attendants.
- Senior: about $20 to $22 an hour or more for PRN, night and specialty unit work.
These are estimates based on 2025 federal wage data for the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro, where most nursing assistants earn between about $14.80 and $22.20 an hour, and on ranges posted by local employers. Hospitals generally pay more than nursing facilities, and PRN and night shifts carry a premium.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in San Antonio
In Texas, nurse aide training programs are approved by Texas Health and Human Services. Each must include at least 100 hours, 60 in the classroom and 40 of hands-on resident care in a nursing facility, after which you take the competency exam and are placed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry. St. Philip's College offers a Nurse Aide for Health Care Level I certificate at its MLK campus on Martin Luther King Drive. Alamo Technical Institute runs a 176-hour certified nurse aide course over about three months, listed at $3,290 with grants available, that includes BLS certification. To stay on the registry you need 24 hours of in-service education every two years.
What the Job Involves
CNAs provide hands-on care under the direction of RNs and LVNs. Daily tasks include helping patients bathe, dress, eat and use the bathroom, turning and repositioning patients, taking vital signs, recording intake and output, changing linens, and reporting changes in a patient's condition to the nurse. In hospitals, aides also help with admissions, discharges and patient transport.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current listing on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry
- BLS certification
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Safe lifting and patient transfer technique
- Patience and respect for patients and residents
- Bilingual English and Spanish, valued across San Antonio
Career Path and Advancement
CNA work is the first rung of the nursing ladder in San Antonio. Many aides move from a nursing facility to a hospital unit for higher pay, then enroll in the 12-month Vocational Nursing certificate at St. Philip's College to become an LVN. From there, LVN to ADN mobility programs lead to a registered nurse license and the higher-paying roles in the Medical Center.
Related Careers in San Antonio
If CNA work interests you, these San Antonio guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a CNA in San Antonio?
Complete a nurse aide training program approved by Texas Health and Human Services, with at least 100 hours of training, then pass the competency exam to be placed on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry. St. Philip's College and Alamo Technical Institute both offer local programs.
How long does CNA training take in San Antonio?
The state minimum is 100 hours. Alamo Technical Institute's certified nurse aide course runs 176 hours over about three months and includes BLS certification and exam review.
How much do CNAs make in San Antonio?
The metro median for nursing assistants is about $17.70 an hour based on 2025 federal wage data. University Hospital posts nursing attendant roles at $17.85 to $19.75 an hour, with PRN roles up to $21.50.
Do San Antonio hospitals require CNA certification?
Many do. CHRISTUS CNA postings in San Antonio list a CNA certification and BLS as required. Check each posting, since some hospital aide titles, such as nursing attendant, set their own requirements.
How do I keep my Texas CNA certification active?
Texas requires nurse aides to complete 24 hours of in-service education every two years to stay on the Nurse Aide Registry. The registry is run by Texas Health and Human Services, which also approves the training programs.
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