Registered Nurse vs Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary in Idaho
In Idaho, registered nurses earn more — an estimated $92,460 a year versus $38,650 for nursing assistant (cna)s, a gap of about $53,810 (roughly 139% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Idaho.
Registered Nurse — Idaho
Verified public wage dataMedian annual pay
$92,460
-5% vs nationalHourly
$44.45/hr
- Typical range
- $80,900–$102,320
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $121,230
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $71,210
- Newer nurses
Nursing Assistant (CNA) — Idaho
Verified public wage dataMedian annual pay
$38,650
-9% vs nationalHourly
$18.58/hr
- Typical range
- $36,300–$46,250
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $47,430
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $28,380
- Newer nurses
Why the gap in Idaho
Registered nurses earn substantially more than certified nursing assistants because the RN is a licensed professional role requiring an ADN or BSN degree and passing the NCLEX-RN, while the CNA is an entry-level certificate role focused on assisting with basic patient care. The gap reflects differences in scope of practice, education, and clinical responsibility. The Idaho figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Idaho's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Registered Nurse vs Nursing Assistant (CNA) comparison or personalize the calculator.
Registered Nurse vs Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Idaho — FAQ
- Do registered nurses or nursing assistant (cna)s earn more in Idaho?
- In Idaho, registered nurses earn more — $92,460 a year versus $38,650 for nursing assistant (cna)s, a gap of about $53,810 (roughly 139% more). Both are median wages reported for Idaho in official public wage data.
- How much is the registered nurse vs nursing assistant (cna) pay gap in Idaho?
- The reported gap in Idaho is about $53,810 a year, or roughly 139% more for registered nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
- Are these Idaho figures exact?
- They're the median wages actually reported for Idaho — meaning half of nurses in the role earn more and half earn less. A median is a real measured midpoint, not a prediction of your offer: your pay moves with experience, specialty, shift, overtime, and employer.
- 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, state)
Idaho figures are published directly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Idaho (May 2025). They are not estimated or adjusted.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figures for Idaho. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.