Feeling unsure about whether a nursing assistant job can provide a stable income? Wondering if you can meet your financial needs and career goals as a CNA? Let us help you find clarity.
Well, CNAs can make an average annual salary of around $37,838 according to the latest data. It will be $18.19 in hourly rate. Moreover, the demand for CNAs is also increasing. So you can enjoy job stability and career growth opportunities in this field.
Hence, you don’t have to worry about the CNA’s job security anymore! However, in today’s guide, we’ll discuss every pinpoint about the CNA salary and job outlook. It’ll assist you to make an informed choice. Just read on!
Nursing Assistant Salary And Job Outlook: Fast Facts!
2023 median pay | $38,130 per year |
Number of jobs 2023 | 1,469,400 |
New job chances over the next decade | 137,800 |
Job openings in the US | 225,834 |
Salary increased in the last 5 year | 8% |
Currently employed in the United States | over 997,871 |
Job Outlook, 2023 to 2033 | 4% |
Employment change, 2023 to 2033 | 64,700 |
How Much Does A Nursing Assistant Make?
The average annual salary for the nursing assistant as of November 15, 2024, is $37,838 a year according to ZipRecruiter. This amount is approximately
- $18.19 in an hour
- $727 in a week and
- $3,153 in a month
The data shows that the salary of CNAs can be as high as $54,000 and can be as low as $22,000.
However, the majority of the CNA’s salary is now ranging between $31,500 to $49,500. The comprehensive salary range is shown in the below table.
Annual salary | Monthly pay | Weekly pay | Hourly wage | |
Top earners | $49,500 | $4,125 | $951 | $23 |
75th percentile | $41,500 | $3,458 | $798 | $20 |
Average | $37,838 | $3,153 | $727 | $18 |
25th percentile | $31,500 | $2,625 | $605 | $15 |
As you see, the average salary range for CNAs can vary greatly. Surprisingly, it can be up to $10,000.
That indicates clear- there are outnumbered opportunities for advancement and earning more with the right skills, experience, and location.
Average Certified Nursing Assistant Salary: Factors That Matter!
Well, the salary for a certified nursing assistant mentioned above is not set in stone. It can vary greatly depending on several factors.
You can get an idea about it in the section below.
1. Experience
In a CNA career, your years of experience in this field directly affect your salary range. You can ultimately expect to earn more in case you have more years of experience than the others who are just starting out their career.
Below is a simple idea of how your years of experience can impact your salary as a CNA.
i) CNAs with less than one year experience
CNAs with less than one year of experience can expect to earn $28,000 in a year. However, your salary range can slightly be up or down. It will be based on your location and the employer type.
ii) CNAs with one to four years of experience
You are likely to earn on average $32,000 to $35,000 annually with your one to four years of experience. Here, you can expect this jump in the salary range with just your growing expertise in the CNA role.
iii) CNAs with five to ten years experience
Let’s say, you are an experienced CNA who has been working in this field for about 5 to 9 years. Then your salary can range around between $37,000 to $40,000 in a year. In this case, your skill, and additional CNA certification will really pay well!
iv) CNAs with ten 19 years experienced
You are likely to earn $42,000 and $45,000 in years with your growing experience in this case. Here, you will be able to handle more challenging tasks and responsibilities efficiently with this many years of experience.
2. Employer Type
Generally, you can expect to get a higher salary for a CNA job in hospitals or specialty clinics. However, the salaries can be a little less in home healthcare settings or care facilities.
Actually, different types of employers offer different benefit packages and salaries.
This variation in salaries will become more clear if you look at the pay rates in different industries as shown below.
Top paying industries for Nursing Assistants
Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
Dentists offices | $ 27.62 | $ 57,450 |
Junior colleges | $ 26.35 | $ 54,820 |
government jobs for nursing assistants | $ 23.36 | $ 48,580 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $ 23.31 | $ 48,490 |
Technical and Trade Schools | $ 22.52 | $ 46,850 |
3. Location
Like the experience and employer type, your living city or state also greatly impacts your salary as a CNA. Typically, urban states or areas pay more to the CNAs than those in the rural areas or lower-cost regions.
For instance, if you are living in the city of California or Los Angeles you will earn higher than the smaller towns.
You can check out the highest-paying cities and states for nursing assistant jobs in the below tables.
Highest paying cities for nursing assistant jobs
City | Hourly pay | Monthly pay | Annual salary |
Corcoran, CA | $29.00 | $5,026 | $60,316 |
Soledad, CA | $27.21 | $4,716 | $56,602 |
Scotts Valley, CA | $23.54 | $4,080 | $48,966 |
San Francisco Metro Area, CA | $22.60 | $3,916 | $46,999 |
Nome, AK | $22.57 | $3,911 | $46,938 |
Lakeland Village, WA | $22.35 | $3,873 | $46,480 |
San Rafael, CA | $22.32 | $3,869 | $46,435 |
Berkeley, CA | $22.27 | $3,860 | $46,330 |
Sitka, AK | $21.91 | $3,798 | $45,583 |
UCLA, CA | $21.71 | $3,762 | $45,148 |
Highest paying states for the nursing assistant jobs
State | Hourly pay | Monthly pay | Annual salary |
Washington | $22.73 | $3,939 | $47,268 |
District of Columbia | $22.67 | $3,930 | $47,161 |
New York | $21.95 | $3,804 | $45,659 |
Massachusetts | $21.91 | $3,798 | $45,579 |
Alaska | $21.61 | $3,745 | $44,946 |
Vermont | $21.33 | $3,697 | $44,374 |
North Dakota | $21.23 | $3,679 | $44,158 |
Oregon | $21.21 | $3,677 | $44,125 |
Colorado | $21.10 | $3,657 | $43,884 |
Hawaii | $20.85 | $3,613 | $43,360 |
Nevada | $20.43 | $3,541 | $42,498 |
New Jersey | $20.37 | $3,530 | $42,370 |
4. Certifications and Education
When you obtain additional CNA certification or advance your education, you can earn higher and go further with this career.
You can be qualified with more specialized roles and greater responsibility through certification like RN or NP. It will place your career with increased pay.
You can also check it out by yourself below.
Career | Median Annual Salary |
Nursing Assistants | $38,200 |
Licensed Vocational and Licensed Practical nurses | $59,730 |
Registered Nurses | $86,070 |
Medical Assistants | $42,000 |
Physical Therapist Assistants | $64,080 |
5. Demand in the Job Market
How much you can earn in the CNA job will also depend on the demand in the job market. The regions with high demand for certified nursing assistants can offer a higher salary.
So, you should always monitor the job market trends and stay informed about the market demand. That way you will be able to get a CNA job with better salaries!
What are the Top Paying Related Nursing Assistant Jobs?
Some CNA-related jobs offer higher salaries due to their advanced skills and responsibilities. More notably, the best-certified nursing assistant jobs can even pay up to $106,000 in a year!
Below is the list of top-paying CNA-related jobs and salaries that you can also consider.
CNAs Jobs | Salary Of 25th Percentile [Per Year] | Salary Of 75th Percentile [Per Year] |
Nurse Aide Evaluator | $106,000 | $106,000 |
Care Manager CNA | $38,000 | $58,500 |
CNA LTC | $36,000 | $55,000 |
Hospital CNA | $41,000 | $54,500 |
Nursing Unit Clerk | $37,000 | $47,500 |
Nursing Attendant | $41,500 | $47,000 |
Geriatric nursing assistant | $35,500 | $43,500 |
Nursing Technician | $34,000 | $43,000 |
State Tested Nursing Assistant | $30,000 | $40,000 |
CNA PCT | $33,500 | $40,000 |
Resident Assistant CNA | $30,500 | $39,000 |
Nursing Secretary | $34,500 | $36,000 |
How Do You Maximize Your CNA Earnings?
Want to maximize your salary in the CNA job? Then the below ideas can help you out.
- Enhance your skills
You should enhance your skills with certification and courses. It will make you qualify for the higher paying jobs.
- Research industries
You can get a CNA job in a number of industries. Like
- Healthcare
- Finance
- Specialized fields or
- Rehabilitation centers
You should go through all the potential industries in your area. It will allow you to get to know the salary of different settings and get a better salary CNA job.
- Know your worth
You should also know your worth as a CNA. Here, you should never hesitate to ask for a higher salary based on your skills, experience, and education.
Industries With the Highest Level of Openings For Nursing Assistants
As you know, you can start your CNA career in different healthcare industries. However, among them, some industries offer more job openings and higher concentration.
You should also get to know it as it can guide you in your work environment choice.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in CNAs’ job
Industry | Employment | Industry employment percentage | Annual pay |
Nursing care facilities | 458,590 | 33.25 | $ 38,730 |
General medical and surgical hospitals | 410,930 | 7.19 | $ 40,840 |
i) Continuing care retirement communities ii) Assisted living facilities for the elderly | 146,190 | 15.83 | $ 37,660 |
Home health care services | 81,370 | 5.08 | $ 35,640 |
Employment services | 59,480 | 1.59 | $ 45,460 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in CNA’s job
Industry | Employment | Industry employment percentage | Annual pay |
Nursing Care Facilities or Skilled Nursing Facilities | 458,590 | 33.25 | $ 38,730 |
i) Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly ii) Continuing Care Retirement Communities | 146,190 | 15.83 | $ 37,660 |
Specialty Hospitals except for Psychiatric and Substance Abuse | 28,410 | 9.94 | $ 42,180 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 410,930 | 7.19 | $ 40,840 |
Home Health Care Services | 81,370 | 5.08 | $ 35,640 |
Career Growth And Employment Prospects
In the CNA career, the most attractive thing is that you can get career growth opportunities and increase your earning potential.
All you just need to gain the specialty certification available for CNAs to advance their careers.
You can get this certification from different organizations. What will be the requirements of education or experience to earn the certification, will totally depend on the organizations you choose.
Below are some common CNA specialty certifications.
- CNA II
- Certified Alzheimer Caregiver
- Certified Hospice
- Palliative Nursing Assistant
- Certified Wound Care Associate
- Medication Aide Certification
Job Prospects
The demand and the employment rate are also growing for the CNAs.
- The CNA’s employment is projected to grow by about 4% in the years from 2023 to 2033.
- There were 1,419,400 CNAs employed in 2023. It is projected to increase by 1,481,800 by 2033.
- About 216,200 CNA job openings are projected every year.
It’s not only the job demand. The salary range for CNAs is also rising gradually. Over the past few years, the average salary range has increased from +3.5% to +5.2%.
Here is a summary of it.
Year | Average Salary | Percent change |
2024 | $32,597 | +5.2% |
2023 | $30,976 | -4.3% |
2022 | $32,357 | +3.7% |
2021 | $31,201 | +3.5% |
2020 | $30,147 | +3.4% |
2019 | $29,149 | +2.4% |
2018 | $28,457 | +0.8% |
2017 | $28,219 | +1.9% |
2016 | $27,686 | +1.6% |
2015 | $27,242 | +1.5% |
FAQs
Here are some other things you should know about the CNA’s salary. Let’s get to know them from the queries that the people mostly search for.
What is the salary of a nursing assistant in the USA?
In the USA, you can expect to earn $38,130 per year in the CNA’s job. This amount is equal to approximately $18.33 per hour. However, that’s just a rough idea. The salary range can vary. Generally, it depends on factors like the employer, location, and so on.
What is the highest-paid nursing assistant?
As the research says, the nurse aide evaluator is the highest-paid nursing assistant job. In this job, the salary can range from about $ 106,000 per year. Moreover, the job market for the nurse aide evaluator is also very active in the US and many industries are hiring for them.
Which country pays nurse assistants the most?
Switzerland is the country that pays the nurse assistant the most. Coming next to the rank are Luxembourg and the United States. You can get an average annual salary of $94,869 in Switzerland. Moreover, the average is $90,467 and $82,750 in Luxembourg and the United States respectively.
Final Words
Well, beyond any doubt, the CNA job is very rewarding both personally and financially.
You can expect to get a stable salary in a CNAs job. However, the salary range can differ depending on some factors. So, you have to always monitor the market trend and gain current information to get the job you are looking for.
Moreover, you should also consider advancing your career to increase your salary potential and enhance your role. Hence, enhance your skills, stay informed, and ensure a successful CNA career.