Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Jobs in California , NY and USA
Looking for your next Certified Nursing Assistant locum tenens opportunity? Imperial Locum specializes in connecting qualified CNAs with flexible contract assignments at hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, and other healthcare facilities across the United States.
What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Do?
Certified Nursing Assistants provide direct patient care under the supervision of Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses. Their role is essential in helping patients maintain comfort, dignity, and safety throughout their healthcare journey.
Every healthcare setting depends on skilled CNAs to support daily patient care while assisting nursing teams with routine clinical responsibilities.
Common CNA Responsibilities
Assist patients with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene
Measure and record vital signs
Help patients move safely between beds and chairs
Assist with feeding and nutritional support
Report changes in patient condition to supervising nurses
Maintain clean and organized patient environments
Offer emotional support and companionship
Complete accurate patient care documentation
Strong communication skills, compassion, and attention to detail help CNAs provide exceptional care while building trust with patients and families.
CNA Jobs Across Every Care Setting
Healthcare employers continue to hire Certified Nursing Assistants across a wide variety of clinical environments.
Hospitals
Support nursing teams in acute care units, medical surgical departments, recovery units, and specialty care areas.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Provide ongoing patient care and assist individuals recovering from illness, injury, or surgery.
Nursing Homes
Develop meaningful relationships while delivering daily care to long term residents.
Assisted Living Communities
Help seniors maintain independence through personal care and daily living assistance.
Home Health
Deliver one on one patient care in the comfort of the patient's home while supporting individualized care plans.
Rehabilitation Centers
Assist patients recovering from orthopedic procedures, neurological conditions, or physical injuries.
Travel and Locum Assignments
Take short term assignments that help healthcare facilities address staffing shortages while gaining experience in different clinical environments.
Whether you are looking for a permanent position or a flexible contract opportunity, our trusted locum tenens staffing agency is ready to connect you with opportunities across all these healthcare settings that match your skills, experience, and career goals.
What Is a Contract Tenens CNA?
Contract CNA jobs can take on short-term assignments that can range from a few weeks to several months, while keeping full control over your schedule and location preferences.
Contract CNA Jobs work is a strong fit for three types of candidates:
• CNAs who want flexible schedules without sacrificing consistent income
• Those who want to gain experience across different care settings and patient populations
• CNAs who are open to placements in high-demand markets like California and across the USA
The benefits of taking contract, per diem, and travel CNA assignments go beyond flexibility:
• Contract pay rates that often exceed those of direct-hire positions
• Full control over assignment length and preferred location
• Travel and housing support for eligible placements
• Faster career growth through exposure to diverse clinical environments
Imperial Locum specializes in locum tenens placements for CNAs across the USA. Our recruiters match you with the right assignment based on your certification, experience, and the type of facility where you do your best work.
Certified Nursing Assistant Pay: What to Expect
CNA pay varies depending on several factors. Your state, experience level, type of facility, and shift all influence your earnings. Imperial Locum works to match CNAs with opportunities that reflect fair and competitive market rates.
On average, CNA pay in the United States typically ranges around $20–$25 per hour. In high-demand states and for contract, per diem, and travel assignments, hourly rates can be significantly higher, often with additional stipends or shift-based premiums.
Here is what typically drives CNA pay rates:
Location Matters
States like California, New York, and Washington consistently rank among the highest-paying for CNAs in the USA. Urban markets and high cost-of-living regions generally offer stronger base rates.
Work Setting Matters
Hospital CNA roles often pay more than home health or assisted living positions due to higher clinical complexity and faster-paced environments.
Shift Differentials
Night shifts, weekends, and holidays typically include additional pay incentives. CNAs who work these shifts can significantly increase their overall earnings.
Experience and Certifications
More experienced CNAs, or those with additional certifications or specialized skills, tend to receive higher pay offers.
Contract vs. Permanent Roles
Contract, per diem, and travel CNA roles often offer higher hourly rates than standard permanent positions due to flexibility and short-term staffing needs.
Eligible placements through our healthcare staffing network may also include medical, dental, and vision coverage. Select facilities may offer sign-on bonuses, and certain assignments may include travel or housing support depending on location and contract type.
What You Need to Apply
Getting started does not require years of experience. The core requirement is a valid CNA certification. Here is what you need:
• Active, state-approved CNA certification (earned through a state-approved training program)
• CPR and BLS certification (current)
• Background check clearance
The following are preferred by many facilities but are not always required:
• Prior experience in a long-term care, skilled nursing, or hospital setting
• TB test or health screening clearance
• Bilingual skills, which can be a strong advantage in select markets
Requirements vary by state and by the specific facility you are placed in. Our recruiters guide you through every step, from verifying your credentials to completing any additional requirements before your first shift.
Why CNAs Choose Imperial Locum
Finding the right CNA role on your own takes time. Sifting through job boards, chasing down contacts, and navigating credentialing requirements on your own is a slow process. Imperial Locum makes it faster and simpler.
• Flexible work types: per diem, contract, locum tenens, temp-to-perm, and permanent placements
• Pay rates that reflect your experience, setting, and shift type
• Openings across hospitals, SNFs, home health, long-term care, rehab, and hospice
• Fast placement: many candidates are working within days of applying
• One dedicated recruiter from application to first shift
• Benefits eligibility including medical, dental, and vision for qualifying placements
• Zero placement fees for candidates
Whether you are a first time CNA looking for a supervised entry level role or an experienced CNA looking to maximize your earnings through locum tenens contracts, working with Imperial Locum Services provides a clear path to your next opportunity.
How to Apply: Three Simple Steps
Getting placed through Imperial Locum is straightforward. Here is what the process looks like from application to first shift:
Step 1: Submit Your Details
Fill out a short application covering your certification, availability, and the type of work you are looking for. It takes less than five minutes.
Step 2: Speak With a Recruiter
A dedicated recruiter reaches out within 24 to 48 hours. They match you to open CNA roles based on your qualifications, preferred settings, and schedule.
Step 3: Start Working
Complete your credentialing and onboarding with our team's support. Many candidates are placed and working within days of their first conversation.
There are no fees for candidates at any stage of this process.
Ready to Find Your Next CNA Role?
Open positions are available right now across hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities throughout the USA. Apply today for the CNA role and a recruiter will be in touch within 24 hours.
Free for candidates. No placement fees. Locum tenens, contract, and permanent roles available.
Explore best locum tenens opportunities and apply today!
Frequently Asked Questions About CNA Jobs
What is a Certified Nursing Assistant and what do they do?
A Certified Nursing Assistant provides direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The daily work includes assisting patients with personal hygiene, monitoring vital signs, repositioning patients, feeding, and documenting care.
CNAs work in hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, home health settings, and rehabilitation centers. They are often the healthcare professional a patient interacts with most frequently during their stay.
How do I become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
You need to complete a state-approved CNA training program, which typically takes four to twelve weeks and includes a minimum of 75 hours of instruction and clinical training. After that, you take a two-part certification exam covering written knowledge and clinical skills.
Requirements vary slightly by state. Once you hold a valid certification, you are ready to apply for CNA positions. Imperial Locum can support you through the credentialing steps once you are matched with a role.
How much does a CNA get paid?
CNA pay varies by state, care setting, experience level, and shift type. California, New York, and Washington are consistently among the highest-paying states for CNAs in the USA. Hospital settings tend to pay more than home health or assisted living.
Night shifts and weekend shifts carry additional differentials at most facilities. Locum tenens and travel CNA contracts often come with stronger hourly rates than standard permanent positions. Our recruiters discuss pay ranges with you directly based on your specific profile and target location.
What types of CNA jobs are available through a staffing agency?
Working through a staffing agency gives you access to far more options than applying to individual facilities on your own. Available placement types include per diem shifts, full-time and part-time roles, private duty CNA positions, hospital CNA placements, nursing home roles, travel CNA contracts, and locum tenens assignments. You can filter by setting, shift type, location, and contract length based on what works for your life.
What is a Temporary CNA job?
Contract CNAs perform the same duties as full-time staff CNAs but work on a contract basis. This setup suits CNAs who want flexibility, higher contract pay rates, and the chance to build experience across different facilities and patient populations.
Are CNA jobs available in California and Los Angeles?
Yes. California is one of the highest-demand states for CNAs in the country. Los Angeles, along with other major California metro areas, has consistent openings across hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and long-term care centers.
Our recruiters assist you with state-specific reciprocity and credentialing so you can smoothly transition to assignments in high-demand states like California and New York.
Do I need prior experience to apply?
Not necessarily. A valid CNA certification is the baseline requirement for most placements. Prior experience in a long-term care or hospital setting is preferred by many facilities but is not always a hard requirement.
Entry-level CNAs are placed in supervised environments that are well-suited to early-career professionals. Our recruiters are honest about which roles fit your current experience level and will match you accordingly.