Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Portland, OR
Certified nursing assistants in Portland start around $21 to $25 an hour at the big hospital systems, with night and weekend differentials on top. OHSU, Legacy Emanuel and Kaiser Sunnyside all post CNA openings. Here are the current listings, then who is hiring and how to get certified in Oregon.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Portland, OR
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Portland
Most CNA hiring in Portland runs through four health systems that are also four of the region's five largest employers: OHSU, Providence, Legacy and Kaiser Permanente. Health care is one of the few sectors still adding jobs in the metro, up 5,200 over the year to August 2026 by state employment figures, while total jobs fell. Hospital CNAs work at OHSU, at the Portland VA Medical Center on Marquam Hill, at Legacy Emanuel off N Gantenbein Ave near the Fremont Bridge and at Kaiser Sunnyside along SE Sunnyside Rd in Clackamas, just off I-205.
Oregon is also unusual in setting hospital staffing by law. Under the 2023 staffing law (HB 2697), a hospital CNA on a medical unit is assigned no more than 7 patients on days and 11 on nights, which keeps hospitals hiring to fill those ratios. Outside the hospitals, CNAs work in skilled nursing, senior living and home care, and in Multnomah County's corrections health clinics.
Top Portland Employers Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants
These Portland employers have posted CNA roles on their own career sites in recent months:
- OHSU - the academic health system hires CNAs for adult acute care, neuroscience intermediate care and hematology oncology units in Portland.
- Legacy Health - Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in North Portland hires CNAs for med-surg units on 12-hour day shifts.
- Kaiser Permanente - Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas staffs med-surg CNAs, represented by SEIU Local 49.
- VA Portland Health Care System - the Portland VA Medical Center on Marquam Hill hires nursing assistants and psychiatric nursing assistants through USAJOBS.
- Multnomah County - the county hires CNAs who also hold a medication aide certificate for its corrections health clinics in the jails.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Portland
- Entry level: about $21 to $25 an hour for newly certified CNAs at area hospitals.
- Experienced: roughly $26 to $30 an hour, plus evening, night and weekend differentials.
- Senior / top of scale: $29 to $31 an hour at the top of hospital and county pay scales, more with differentials.
These are estimates drawn from employers' own posted ranges in 2026: Legacy Emanuel posts $20.95 to $28.37 with night differentials of $2.75 an hour, OHSU posts $23.43 to $31.25, Kaiser Sunnyside posts $25.22 to $29.63, and the VA's GS-3 to GS-5 range is $42,102 to $68,741 a year. Union contracts, shift, unit and a medication aide certificate move pay the most. The Portland metro minimum wage is $16.80, and no hospital in the area pays near it.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Portland
CNAs in Oregon are certified by the Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN). You complete an OSBN-approved nursing assistant training program, then pass the competency exam. Oregon retired the old CNA 1 and CNA 2 levels on July 1, 2025, so every certificate is now simply CNA, and former CNA 2 tasks are additional authorized duties. Local training includes Portland Community College's nursing assistant course at the CLIMB Center, Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham and Clackamas Community College in Oregon City. Most hospitals also require an American Heart Association BLS card, often completed during orientation. Jobs across the river in Vancouver need Washington's own Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) credential.
What the Job Involves
CNAs handle the hands-on care that keeps a unit running: taking vital signs, helping patients bathe, dress, eat and move, turning and repositioning bedbound patients, recording intake and output, and reporting changes to the nurse. On hospital units they also restock rooms, answer call lights and help with admissions and discharges, usually on 8- or 12-hour shifts.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Oregon CNA certification
- AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers
- Safe patient handling, transfers and lifts
- Accurate vital signs and charting in an electronic record
- Calm, clear communication with patients and families
- Reliability on nights, weekends and 12-hour shifts
Career Path and Advancement
Many Portland CNAs use the job as a step into nursing. A medication aide certificate adds county and long-term care options, and the next rung is Licensed Practical Nurse through the practical nursing programs at Concorde Career College on NE Irving St or Sumner College at Cascade Station. From there, ADN programs at PCC Sylvania, Mt. Hood and Clackamas, or BSN programs at OHSU and the University of Portland, lead to registered nurse roles at the same hospitals.
Related Careers in Portland
If CNA work interests you, these related Portland roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who certifies CNAs in Oregon?
The Oregon State Board of Nursing certifies nursing assistants and approves the training programs. You need an approved course and the competency exam before you can be hired as a CNA in Portland.
Is there still a CNA 1 and CNA 2 in Oregon?
No. Oregon retired the two levels on July 1, 2025, and every certificate is now CNA. Some job postings still mention CNA 1 or CNA 2, but employers now treat the former CNA 2 tasks as additional authorized duties.
How much do CNAs make in Portland?
Hospital postings in 2026 range from about $21 to $31 an hour before differentials. Legacy, OHSU and Kaiser all post their ranges, and night shifts at Legacy add $2.75 an hour.
How many patients does a hospital CNA care for in Oregon?
Oregon's hospital staffing law caps a CNA's assignment on a medical unit at 7 patients on day shift and 11 on nights. The Oregon Health Authority enforces it, with civil penalties since June 2025.
Can I work as a CNA in Vancouver with an Oregon certificate?
Not on its own. Washington issues its own Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) credential, and out-of-state CNAs apply through the Washington Department of Health and test for it, so a Vancouver or Salmon Creek job needs the Washington credential even if you hold an Oregon CNA.
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