CNA Jobs in Kent, WA: Employers, Settings, and Starting Pay

CNA jobs in Kent, WA fall into two rings. Inside the city, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and licensed adult family homes hire Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) holders and, in nursing facilities, Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR) students who have 4 months from hire to certify. Within a short drive are four hospitals: Valley Medical Center in Renton, MultiCare Auburn Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way (Virginia Mason Franciscan Health), and Highline Medical Center in Burien, and the 1 Line from Kent Des Moines Station reaches Seattle hospitals without a car. Job-posting data from Indeed (August 2026) shows a Washington average of about $23.62 per hour for nursing assistants and about $23.80 in Seattle; Kent is not reported separately, so use the state figure as your planning number.

The employer rings around Kent

Most Kent graduates start in the first ring, because those employers hire on a Certificate of Completion plus NAR status and move quickly. The second ring is where many go after 6 to 12 months of experience (a typical range hospitals list as a preference). The third and fourth rings are options because Kent's transit connections improved in December 2025, when the 1 Line reached Kent Des Moines, Star Lake, and Federal Way Downtown.

Settings inside Kent

• Skilled nursing facilities. The volume employer for new NA-Cs and the place where most training clinicals happen. Expect higher resident loads than a hospital, 8- or 12-hour shifts, and the 4-month NAR rule for anyone hired before certification.
• Assisted living and memory care. Hire NA-Cs and HCAs; duties lean toward personal care and medication assistance under nurse delegation.
• Adult family homes. Washington licenses thousands of these residences, and the Kent valley and East Hill have many. Shifts are flexible, resident counts are small, and pay is generally lower than facility pay.
• Home care agencies. Serve clients across South King County; NA-Cs are often hired at the HCA rate unless the role requires nursing assistant scope.

Scope matters when comparing offers. An NA-C works under a licensed nurse; medication administration needs the medication assistant endorsement, and community settings rely on nurse delegation. The line between the two is explained in nurse delegation for Washington CNAs.

Pay expectations for Kent

All figures are approximate. A first job in a Kent skilled nursing facility will usually start below the state posting average; adult family homes and agency roles often sit closer to the wage floor; hospital float pools in Renton, Auburn, or Federal Way with night differentials can exceed the average. Statewide detail by setting is in CNA salary in Washington State.

What Kent employers verify

1. Credential status on the DOH Provider Credential Search: active NA-C, or NAR for facility work before certification.
2. Background check. The DOH runs a name-based statewide check at application; employers run their own, and adult family homes are required to run checks on staff.
3. BLS CPR for hospitals and most facilities.
4. TB test and immunizations, typically the same records used for clinicals.
5. Photo ID matching the name on the credential.

If your credential is under a former name, correct it with the DOH before applying; the process is in Washington CNA name change, address change, and duplicate credential.

A hiring sequence for Kent graduates

• During weeks 3 and 4 of training: apply to skilled nursing facilities and adult family homes in Kent, Des Moines, Federal Way, and Auburn. Bring the Certificate of Completion and NAR confirmation.
• The day your $100 skills pass is recorded: register for the $55 Credentia knowledge test.
• After the knowledge pass: submit the DOH application and start applying to Valley Medical Center, MultiCare Auburn, St. Francis, and Highline float pools.
• Once the NA-C appears on the registry: update your employer and, if you want Seattle hospital pay, apply north; the 1 Line from Kent Des Moines makes First Hill and the University District reachable.
• After 6 to 12 months (typical range): reapply to hospital unit positions that listed an experience preference.

The rules for working before certification are in working as a CNA before certification in Washington.

Commuting from Kent to each ring

Times are approximate and based on King County Metro and Sound Transit published information as of September 2026.

• Inside Kent: Metro routes radiate from Kent Station; East Hill facilities are usually a short drive.
• Renton (Valley Medical Center): roughly 15 to 25 minutes by car via SR 167; Metro and Sound Transit express service also connect Kent Station and Renton.
• Auburn (MultiCare Auburn): roughly 10 to 20 minutes by car; Sounder and Metro serve Auburn Station.
• Federal Way (St. Francis): roughly 15 to 25 minutes by car; Metro route 183 from Kent Station or the 1 Line from Kent Des Moines.
• Burien (Highline Medical Center): roughly 20 to 30 minutes by car; Metro route 165 serves Kent Des Moines Station, and Metro connections continue toward Burien.
• Seattle hospitals: the 1 Line from Kent Des Moines to Westlake is under an hour; Federal Way Downtown to Westlake is about 56 minutes, and Kent Des Moines is two stops closer.

A car widens the second ring; without one, the West Hill's 1 Line and A Line connections make Kent Des Moines the best base for a nursing assistant who wants hospital work.

Frequently asked questions

How much do CNAs make in Kent, WA? No Kent-specific figure appears in the August 2026 Indeed data. The Washington average is about $23.62 per hour; expect a first facility job to start below that and hospital roles with differentials to exceed it.

Which Kent employers hire new CNAs without experience? Skilled nursing facilities and adult family homes. Many also hire NARs before certification.

Can I get a hospital job from Kent without a car? Yes. St. Francis in Federal Way is reachable by Metro route 183 or the 1 Line, and Seattle hospitals by the 1 Line from Kent Des Moines Station.

Does Kent have a higher minimum wage than the state? No. Kent uses the 2026 Washington minimum of $17.13 per hour; Seattle sets a higher city minimum.

Do Kent employers care where I trained? No. They verify an active NA-C on the DOH registry. Any WABON-approved program, including the 4-week course at Huduma CNA Programs in Federal Way one Metro 183 ride from Kent Station, leads to the same credential.

For the statewide picture of openings by setting, read CNA jobs in Washington. If you have not trained yet, the CNA Traditional program covers the 108 hours in 4 weeks with the skills test on site.