Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in San Jose, CA
Certified nursing assistants in San Jose earn a metro median above $27 an hour, and skilled nursing homes from N Jackson Ave in East San Jose to Forest Ave and Payne Ave in the west hire year round, often new graduates. Here are the current openings, followed by who hires, what it pays and how to get certified.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in San Jose, CA
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Certified Nursing Assistant Work in San Jose
Most San Jose CNAs work in skilled nursing and post-acute care, the buildings that take patients after a stay at Valley Medical Center, O'Connor Hospital or Regional Medical Center. Canyon Springs Post-Acute sits on N Jackson Ave in East San Jose near Regional, Skyline Healthcare Center is on Forest Ave in the hospital corridor west of downtown, and Creekside Post-Acute is on Payne Ave in West San Jose. Sunnyvale Post-Acute, on S Bernardo Ave in Sunnyvale, also staffs CNAs.
Schedules are built around 24-hour care. Postings commonly offer AM, PM and NOC shifts on a 4-on, 2-off rotation, and per diem shifts fill gaps for aides who want extra hours. Pay runs well above the state minimum because of Silicon Valley's cost of living, and California's health care worker minimum wage puts large health systems and certain county facilities at $25 an hour from July 1, 2026.
Top San Jose Employers for Certified Nursing Assistants
These San Jose area employers hire CNAs for skilled nursing and post-acute care:
- Canyon Springs Post-Acute - the East San Jose skilled nursing facility on N Jackson Ave hires CNAs for PM and NOC shifts and welcomes new graduates.
- Creekside Post-Acute - a skilled nursing facility on Payne Ave in West San Jose that hires full-time CNAs, newly certified aides included.
- Skyline Healthcare Center - a skilled nursing home on Forest Ave near O'Connor Hospital that books CNAs for per diem shifts.
- White Blossom Care Center - a San Jose skilled nursing home that hires CNAs on AM, PM and NOC shifts with a 4-on, 2-off schedule.
- Sunnyvale Post-Acute - a skilled nursing facility on S Bernardo Ave in Sunnyvale that employs RNs, LVNs and CNAs.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in San Jose
- Entry level: about $22 to $25 per hour for newly certified aides in skilled nursing.
- Experienced: roughly $25 to $30 per hour, with per diem and night shifts at the higher end.
- Senior: $30 to $37 per hour for long-tenured aides and roles at large health systems.
These are estimates built from federal wage data for the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro (a 2025 median of $27.33 an hour) and recent San Jose postings at $22 to $26. Shift, setting and employer size move pay most: large health systems carry the $25 health care minimum, and night and per diem work pays a premium.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in San Jose
CNAs in California are certified by the California Department of Public Health, through its Healthcare Professional Certification and Training Section. You complete a state-approved training program, clear a DOJ background check and pass the state competency exam, which places you on the CNA registry. Approved programs typically run 160 hours, 60 in the classroom and 100 in clinical. Locally, Evergreen Valley College on Yerba Buena Rd in the Evergreen foothills offers a CNA-Home Health Aide program, and Mission College in Santa Clara runs a short-term Nursing Assistant program.
What the Job Involves
CNAs give hands-on daily care under the direction of an RN or LVN: bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, turning and moving residents safely, taking vital signs and reporting changes. You keep rooms clean and safe, answer call lights, chart care and intake, and help residents recovering from surgery or a stroke get back on their feet.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active California CNA certificate
- Current BLS and CPR cards
- Safe transfers, lifts and fall prevention
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Patience and compassion with older adults
- Reliability on a rotating 4-on, 2-off schedule
Career Path and Advancement
In San Jose the CNA certificate is the first rung of the nursing ladder. Aides move into restorative nursing or hospital patient care roles, then many enroll in the Vocational Nursing program at Mission College to become LVNs. From there, LVN-to-RN bridges at Mission College and Evergreen Valley College lead to registered nursing at the County's hospitals, Kaiser and Good Samaritan.
Related Careers in San Jose
If nursing assistant work interests you, these San Jose guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do CNAs make in San Jose?
The 2025 federal median for the San Jose metro was $27.33 an hour, with the bottom tenth near $23 and the top tenth above $37. Recent San Jose skilled nursing postings have offered $22 to $26 an hour, and per diem shifts can pay more.
Who certifies CNAs in California?
The California Department of Public Health certifies nurse assistants. You need a state-approved training program, a DOJ background clearance and a passing score on the state competency exam.
How long does CNA training take near San Jose?
Approved programs typically run about 160 hours, split between classroom and clinical training, and schedules vary by school. Evergreen Valley College and Mission College both run local programs; check each school for current start dates.
Do San Jose nursing homes hire new CNAs?
Yes. Several San Jose skilled nursing facilities say newly certified CNAs are welcome and offer training. Experience in long-term care is a plus but often not required.
What shifts do CNAs work in San Jose?
Skilled nursing runs around the clock, so AM, PM and NOC shifts are all common, often on a 4-on, 2-off rotation. Per diem shifts are also available for aides who want flexible or extra hours.
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