Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary
A nursing assistant (cna) earns about $42,260 a year — roughly $20.32/hour, with most earning between $37,260 and $47,220. This is a verified national figure from official public wage data.
Nursing Assistant (CNA) — U.S. national
Verified public wage dataMedian annual pay
$42,260
Hourly
$20.32/hr
- Typical range
- $37,260–$47,220
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $51,980
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $33,940
- Newer nurses
What affects this pay
- State and metro labor market
- Long-term care vs hospital
- Shift differentials
- Experience
About Nursing Assistants
What they do
Nursing Assistants (usually Certified Nursing Assistants, CNAs) handle hands-on basic care — bathing, feeding, mobility, and recording vitals — under nurse supervision. The role is the backbone of long-term care staffing.
How to become a Nursing Assistant
CNAs finish a short state-approved training program (often 4–12 weeks) and pass a competency exam to join the state nurse-aide registry. No degree is required.
What drives the pay
CNA pay is the entry rung of the nursing-care ladder. It tracks closely with local minimum and service-wage levels and is highest in hospitals and high-cost metros.
Nursing Assistant (CNA) pay by state
Estimated nursing assistant pay where this role tends to earn the most. Open a state for the full local picture.
| State | Est. annual pay | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 | +18% vs national |
| Washington | $49,180 | +16% vs national |
| New York | $48,590 | +15% vs national |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | +13% vs national |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 | +13% vs national |
| California | $47,630 | +13% vs national |
| Colorado | $47,380 | +12% vs national |
| Vermont | $47,130 | +12% vs national |
Nursing Assistant salary by state
Open any state for nursing assistant pay, local metros, and how it compares to the U.S. average.
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Nursing Assistant salary FAQ
- How much do Nursing Assistants make?
- A Nursing Assistant earns about $42,260 a year — roughly $20.32 an hour — based on verified public wage data. Most earn between $37,260 and $47,220, and the top 10% earn roughly $51,980 or more.
- What is the hourly pay for Nursing Assistants?
- Most Nursing Assistants are paid an hourly wage. The national figure works out to about $20.32 an hour at a full-time schedule, with a typical range of $17.91 to $22.70. Nights, weekends, and overtime differentials push the real hourly rate higher.
- Which state pays Nursing Assistants the most?
- Oregon is among the highest-paying states for Nursing Assistants, at roughly $49,830 a year, followed by other West Coast and Northeast states. State figures are estimates based on national pay and local cost of living.
- How does Nursing Assistant pay compare to a registered nurse?
- Nursing Assistants earn less than registered nurses — about $42,260 a year vs $97,550 for RNs — reflecting a shorter training path and a narrower scope of practice.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— A verified figure from official U.S. public wage data.
BLS OEWS (May 2025, national)
National wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2025 national data.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology