CNA salary state by state [Updated January 2025]
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in the United States make an average of $19.04 per hour and $39,610 annually.
However, numerous factors determine CNA pay, from the state and city where nursing assistants work to the time of their shifts.
This ultimate guide to certified nursing assistant pay covers everything there is to know about CNA income: How much does a CNA make per year? How much do CNAs make per hour? How much do nursing assistants make in the highest-paying industries? How much money does a CNA make in the highest-paying states and cities?
Find the answers to these questions and more in this state-by-state guide to CNA salary.
Salary data regarding states, metropolitan areas, nonmetropolitan areas, and industries comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and only represents averages for employed CNAs.
What is a CNA?
Certified nursing assistants are essential members of healthcare teams. They provide basic care and assist patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as feeding, toileting, bathing, and grooming. CNAs typically work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs).
CNA salary state by state in 2025
Would you like to know how much CNAs make per hour or year in your state? Here are the average hourly pay rates and annual income for CNAs state by state, including the District of Columbia:
Highest-paid CNAs in 2025
According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national average annual wage for CNAs is $39,610. However, the average annual CNA salary covers a wide range of income groups. For example, the highest-paid 10 percent earns over $48,780 annually.
The following sections cover the states, cities, and industries where this highest-earning group of CNAs works.
Which are the highest-paying states for CNAs?
When predicting nursing assistant income, the state where a CNA works is one of the most illuminating factors. Here’s how much CNAs make an hour and annually in the top 10 best-paying states for CNAs:
Source: Table created based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Which are the highest-paying cities for CNAs?
Are you considering packing your bags and traveling to one of the highest-paying states for CNAs? Then, you’ll want to know which specific areas within these states offer certified nursing assistants the highest average salaries. The following are the average pay rates in the top 10 highest-paying metropolitan areas for CNAs:
Source: Table created based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Which are the highest-paying nonmetropolitan areas for CNAs?
Don’t like living in cities? Don’t worry; there are high-paying nonmetropolitan areas for CNAs as well. The following are the five highest-paying nonmetropolitan areas for CNAs in the United States:
Source: Nursa’s Nurse Salary Guide: Understand How Much You Can Make as a Nurse
Which are the highest-paying CNA jobs by industry?
Location is not the only factor determining CNA earning potential. CNAs can earn more than double in some sectors than they can in others. Therefore, working in the right industry can be even more important than moving to the highest-paying state.
Take a look at the top 10 highest-paying industries for CNAs:
Source: Table created based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
What is the minimum wage for nursing assistants?
The lowest-earning 10 percent of CNAs earn less than $14.44 per hour or $30,020 annually, which is lower than some state’s minimum wage (MW) but higher than the current Federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
The following table indicates the average hourly rates for CNAs in each state compared with each state’s minimum wage. If the state has no MW or if it is lower than the federal MW, the federal minimum wage is provided.
*Some exceptions to state minimum wage apply.
Even in the lowest-paying states for CNAs, nursing assistants can expect to earn significantly more than the minimum wage in their states.
Will CNA pay increase in 2025?
The employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is estimated to grow by 4 percent over the following decade, as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth rate translates to about 216,200 job openings for nursing assistants and orderlies per year, primarily resulting from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force.
The HCS Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Report, released in July 2022, found that nursing aides working at nursing homes—the healthcare setting that employs the largest percentage of CNAs—had seen a pay raise of 11 percent from $15.23 in 2021 to $16.87 in 2022. Interestingly, turnover rates continue to be high despite the salary increase.
Although high turnover rates typically indicate job dissatisfaction, the good news is that healthcare facilities are continuously looking for CNAs. Overall, there is evidence for both an increase in state-by-state CNA salary and job growth in 2025.
What increases the salary of CNA jobs?
Considering that it is possible to train as a certified nursing assistant in as little as four weeks and that CNAs earn more than minimum wage regardless of the state where they work, it is safe to say that CNAs make relatively good money.
Pursuing higher education
CNAs make good money in relation to the required investment to become CNAs. However, the higher the level of education, the higher the pay. Therefore, CNAs who want to continue working in the nursing field long term should consider transitioning from CNAs to RNs.
The good news is that the time you spend working as a CNA is by no means time lost because it can give you the necessary first-hand experience to decide if nursing is the best career choice for you. Furthermore, a 2016 study found that RNs with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees who previously worked as CNAs had higher entry-level salaries (between $3,400 and $7,700 more per year) than those without this health-related work experience.
In other words, working as a CNA on your way to becoming an RN is a very smart financial move.
Taking advantage of shift differentials
CNAs who work non-standard hours, such as nights, weekends, or holidays, typically make more money than their counterparts working day shifts Monday through Friday.
Nursing assistants can take advantage of these shift differentials to make the same amount of money working fewer hours. This can be especially beneficial for CNAs who are pursuing higher studies.
Picking up PRN shifts
Another smart financial move is to pick up PRN or per diem jobs for nursing assistants.
Working per diem has many advantages besides significantly higher hourly rates.
- First, if you work as a CNA while in nursing school, you will appreciate the flexibility that per diem work offers. You can pick up shifts around your school schedule, take time off to study during exams, and work full time over school breaks.
- Secondly, per diem CNA work doesn’t tie you to a specific facility. If you enjoy working at a facility, you can request more shifts there and even accept a full-time position. On the other hand, if you hate a facility, you never have to go back.
- Finally, remember that working as a CNA while studying to become an RN can help you earn a higher entry-level salary once you graduate from nursing school.
Is becoming a CNA worth it?
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Compared with other healthcare positions, working as a CNA does not offer a very high salary. However, it is arguably the best way to enter the nursing profession. Here are some reasons why:
- You can complete CNA training in as little as four weeks, and the training could even be free.
- Working as CNAs gives aspiring nurses valuable first-hand information about the nursing profession and working in healthcare overall.
- CNAs can easily find flexible and high-paying per diem shifts.
- CNAs who decide to complete BSN degrees can significantly increase their entry-level pay as registered nurses thanks to their previous work experience in healthcare.
Since this ultimate guide focuses on salary, the tips to increase your salary naturally gravitate toward continuing your studies and completing an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a BSN. To get the highest possible salary in the nursing field, consider pursuing one of the highest-paying nurse specialties.
If you do not want to become a nurse and are content with CNA pay, know that your job is incredibly valuable. You light up so many people’s days with your company and care. Here at Nursa, we want you to know that we see you, appreciate you, and thank you for all you do.
Sign up with Nursa to work on your own terms, picking up high-paying PRN shifts when and where you want.
Sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (Nursing Assistants)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (Nursing Assistants and Orderlies)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Consolidated Minimum Wage Table
- Becker’s Hospital Review: Nursing home RNs, nurses aides averaging 11% pay increase, survey finds
