Certified nursing assistants, or CNAs, are a crucial part of the patient care team in New York. Many CNAs get to provide closer care for their patients and spend more time with them than any other healthcare professional. Thus, their work is of extreme importance. Some CNAs also have families to support, and all have economic needs. Therefore, nursing assistants must learn about CNA salaries in New York. In this guide, we will discuss the importance of CNA pay, the average wages in different areas of the State of New York, the average CNA salary per hour and year, the cost of living, and more.
The table below shows how much CNAs make throughout New York. Click on the links to view cities with PRN nursing jobs offering higher-than-average pay for CNAs.
Table 1. Average CNA Wages in the Different Areas, Cities, and Towns of New York
This resource provides publicly available information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the MIT Living Wage Calculator about average CNA salaries, employment, location quotient, and living wage in New York (most recent information as of February 2024). While Nursa currently offers independent contractor CNAs in New York the opportunity to access per diem jobs that pay on an hourly basis rather than access to salaried or wage-based employment opportunities, this information may be a helpful frame of reference for you as you assess the market landscape both in regard to per diem jobs and employment opportunities.
What’s the Average CNA Salary in the State of New York?
CNA jobs in New York typically have a wage range from $32,020 to $52,210 per year. Naturally, many CNAs don’t fall within these ranges; some make more, and some earn less.
Explanation of Percentile Wage Estimates by the BLS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentile wage estimates for CNAs in New York are as follows:
- 90th percentile: $52,210
- 75th percentile: $49,250
- 50th percentile: $44,080
- 25th percentile: $37,340
- 10th percentile: $32,020
These percentiles mean that, in New York, 10 percent of CNAs earn more than the 90th percentile of $52,210, and 90 percent make less than this. For the 75th percentile, 25 percent of CNAs make more than $49,250 annually, 75 percent earn less, and so on.
The nursing assistant salary in New York typically varies within these ranges, but CNAs can make more per hour and have a more significant yearly income.
How Much Do Nursing Assistants Make in New York per Hour?
The average CNA wage per hour in New York is higher than the national average. As shown in Table 1, most cities in New York State pay more than the national average of $17.41. Nursing assistant pay per hour varies between $21.50 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City area and $16.08 in the Watertown-Fort Drum area. See a comparison between average CNA wages in New York and the United States in the following table:
Table 2. Comparison of CNA Wages in New York and the United States
New York is one of the highest-paying states for CNAs in the country. According to the BLS, it is among the five top-paying states for CNAs.
Nevertheless, CNAs can upgrade their hourly wages in New York with PRN nursing jobs. Keep reading to learn more about PRN or per diem CNA jobs in New York.
How Can I Earn More as a CNA in New York?
Overall, many factors influence CNA pay in New York. Some of these factors include the following:
- Type of facility: For example, hospitals generally pay CNAs higher wages than assisted living facilities or home health care services.
- Location: Different cities and towns have different wages within New York.
One top factor influencing pay for CNAs in New York is working PRN or per diem nurse assistant jobs, which pay significantly more per hour than staff positions while allowing CNAs to control their schedules. CNAs can also work in special units such as Med Surg, ICU, and the ER, which pay significantly higher.
High-Paying PRN CNA Jobs
Some of the most populated cities with high-paying PRN CNA jobs in New York State include the following:
By working PRN shifts, CNAs can obtain higher hourly income, sometimes even double their regular rate—a significant advantage.
Cost of Living Considerations in New York
Knowing how much you can earn in New York may help you choose the best option when considering independent contractor work or applying for salaried or wage-based employment.
The MIT living wage calculator estimates the average living wage required to cover basic living expenses throughout the United States. Accordingly, living wage considerations for New York are as follows:
Table 3: Cost of Living in New York
The average salary for CNAs in New York is lower than the estimated cost of living in New York. In other words, for most CNAs, their average wages fall short of covering basic expenses. This situation highlights the importance of obtaining higher hourly pay.
Employment and Location Quotient in New York
The location quotient is a figure that compares the number of people working in a specific job within a particular area to the national average. Therefore, if the location quotient is higher than one for CNAs in a particular area, there is a higher concentration of that profession within that specific area than the national concentration.
The total number of employed CNAs varies significantly in different areas in New York State. In the bigger cities and towns, there are more employed CNAs. However, remember that the location quotient shows the concentration of the profession. The following table shows these variations:
Table 4: Number of Employed CNAs and Location Quotient in the Different Areas of New York
The total number of employed CNAs in New York is approximately 80,100, with an overall location quotient of 0.99.
How Can I Become a CNA in New York?
Applicants who wish to become CNAs in New York must meet the following requirements (with certain considerations):
- Be 18 years or older and in good physical health.
- Hold a high school diploma.
- Graduate from a CNA program (nurse aide program).
- Pass the state test.
- Apply and get a license to work in the State of New York.
Once applicants have their licenses, they can work in New York. Are you already a licensed CNA? For verification of your New York CNA license, look up the status of your license in New York’s CNA registry.
CNA Classes in New York
The New York State Education Department approves specific programs to get a CNA certification in New York. Here are some of these programs:
- Capital District Educational Opportunity Center
- Onondaga Community College
- Genesee Community College
- Mercy University
- Kingsborough Community College
- D'Youville University
Find the complete list of programs offering CNA classes in New York here.
Further Your Studies as a CNA
Some career opportunities for CNAs in New York include the following:
- Patient Care Techs (PCT): PCTs are in charge of assisting hospital patients with basic care tasks. Per diem PCT jobs in New York can help CNAs earn higher salaries.
- Home Health Aide (HHS): HHSs work in patients’ homes, accompanying them through daily activities.
- Certified Nurse Assistant Advanced: CNAAs work in advanced medical settings. Naturally, these professionals are in high demand for CNA hospital jobs.
One significant advantage of continuing education is the higher pay and more advanced responsibilities CNAs can have.
How Can I Find CNA Jobs in New York?
Finding nursing jobs in New York is easy, thanks to digital tools for healthcare professionals, including CNAs, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs). Online healthcare platforms make the job-seeking task easy. Nursa offers CNAs the opportunity to pick up high-paying PRN nursing jobs in New York and all the advantages that working independently provides.
