Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Detroit, MI
Certified nursing assistants in metro Detroit earn a median of about $19 an hour, and Henry Ford Health alone lists nurse assistant openings from Henry Ford Hospital on the Boulevard to Novi. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get on the Michigan registry.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Detroit, MI
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Detroit
Nurse assistant work in Detroit splits between two very different settings. The hospital side is concentrated in Midtown and New Center, where the Detroit Medical Center campus, Henry Ford Hospital on West Grand Boulevard and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center on John R Street all staff inpatient units around the clock. The suburban hospitals add more of the same along I-696 and the Lodge, from William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak to Henry Ford's hospital in Novi.
The other half of the market is long-term care. Southfield-based Ciena Healthcare runs a string of nursing homes inside the city, including Boulevard Temple Care Center, Omni Continuing Care and Regency Heights-Detroit, and these buildings hire CNAs steadily for every shift. Many Detroit CNAs start in a nursing home, then move to a hospital unit once they have a year of experience, which is often the preferred background on hospital postings.
Top Detroit Employers Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants
These metro Detroit employers hire nurse assistants and patient care associates:
- Henry Ford Health - posts nurse assistant roles in Detroit, including a Neuro-Surgical ICU opening, plus night-shift med-surg and neuro roles at its Novi hospital.
- Detroit Medical Center - hires Patient Care Associates at Harper University/Hutzel Women's Hospital in Midtown and accepts a nurse assistant program as qualifying training.
- Corewell Health - the former Beaumont system hires nurse assistants at its Royal Oak hospital and recruits CNAs for its continuing care centers, including Commons Dearborn on Rotunda Drive.
- Ciena Healthcare - the Southfield-based nursing home operator hires CNAs at Detroit buildings including Boulevard Temple, Omni Continuing Care and Regency Heights-Detroit.
- VA Detroit Healthcare System - the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Midtown hires nursing assistants for its acute care units through USAJOBS.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Detroit
- Entry level: about $17 to $18.50 an hour for newly certified aides.
- Experienced: roughly $19 to $21 an hour, the middle of the metro range.
- Senior and federal: $22 to $24 an hour at the top of the hospital range, and VA nursing assistants posted at GS-3 to GS-5 can reach about $61,000 a year.
These are estimates based on federal wage data for the Detroit metro area and recent local postings. Night and weekend differentials, hospital versus nursing home employment and specialty units such as ICU or transplant all move pay, and the health systems commonly add sign-on bonuses during staffing pushes.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Detroit
Michigan certifies nurse aides through the Michigan Nurse Aide Registry, which is maintained by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems. You complete a state-permitted nurse aide training program, then pass the certification exam, which the state contracts to Headmaster. A graduate waiting on exam results can work as a nurse aide for up to four months after finishing training. Locally, Wayne County Community College District runs its Certified Nursing Assistant program at the Health Science Center on its Northwest Campus on West Outer Drive. Renewal comes every two years, and since March 23, 2026 Michigan CNAs need at least 12 hours of continuing education each year.
What the Job Involves
CNAs handle the hands-on care that keeps patients safe and comfortable: bathing, dressing, feeding, turning and transferring patients, helping them walk, and answering call lights. They take and record vital signs, intake and output, and weights, report changes in condition to the nurse, and keep rooms stocked and clean. In a nursing home the same residents are cared for day after day; in a hospital the pace is faster and patients change often.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Michigan Nurse Aide Registry certification
- BLS certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross
- Safe lifting, transfer and mobility technique
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Patience and clear communication with patients and families
- Reliability on nights, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
In Detroit the usual ladder runs from nursing home CNA to hospital nurse assistant or patient care associate, then into nursing school. Many aides use the experience to enter the practical nursing or ADN programs at Wayne County Community College District or Henry Ford College in Dearborn, or the BSN programs at Wayne State University and University of Detroit Mercy, and come back to the same hospitals as registered nurses.
Related Careers in Detroit
If nurse assistant work interests you, these related Detroit guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get CNA certified in Michigan?
Complete a state-permitted nurse aide training program, then pass the nurse aide certification exam, which Headmaster administers for LARA's Bureau of Community and Health Systems. Passing places you on the Michigan Nurse Aide Registry, which is what Detroit employers check before hiring.
How much do CNAs make in Detroit?
Federal wage data for the Detroit metro put the median for nursing assistants at about $19 an hour, with most aides between roughly $18 and $23. Hospital units and night shifts generally pay more than day shifts in long-term care.
Can I work as a nurse aide before I pass the exam?
Yes, for a limited time. Michigan lets a graduate of a nurse aide training program work for up to four months after finishing training while waiting to test. If you have not passed within that window, you can no longer work as a nurse aide until you do.
Do Detroit hospitals require CNA certification?
It depends on the employer. Detroit Medical Center accepts a nurse assistant program or equivalent training for its Patient Care Associate roles, and Corewell Health lists certification as preferred, but nursing homes need registry certification. Holding the certificate opens the most doors.
What does it take to renew a Michigan CNA certification?
Certification renews every two years. You must show paid nursing-related work during the period, and since March 23, 2026 Michigan requires at least 12 hours of continuing education each year, including training on abuse, neglect and care plans.
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