How much does a certified nursing assistant make?
The median certified nursing assistant in the United States earns $42,260 per year, about $20.32 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all certified nursing assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-1131.
Certified nursing assistant salary range
Pay for certified nursing assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $33,940 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $51,980. The average (mean) wage of $42,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,940 | $16.32 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,260 | $17.91 | |
| Median (50th) | $42,260 | $20.32 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $47,220 | $22.70 | |
| 90th percentile | $51,980 | $24.99 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Certified nursing assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Certified nursing assistants earn the most in Oregon at $49,830 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $30,510. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 | 14,800 |
| Washington | $49,180 | 30,270 |
| New York | $48,590 | 87,990 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | 7,810 |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 | 3,490 |
| California | $47,630 | 110,060 |
| Colorado | $47,380 | 22,240 |
| Vermont | $47,130 | 3,030 |
| Maine | $47,070 | 8,540 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | 32,400 |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | 38,130 |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | 29,120 |
| Rhode Island | $46,440 | 10,220 |
| Alaska | $46,370 | 2,060 |
| Illinois | $45,960 | 68,640 |
| North Dakota | $45,820 | 6,840 |
| Nevada | $45,490 | 8,100 |
| Hawaii | $45,350 | 5,050 |
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | 28,370 |
| Connecticut | $44,790 | 21,380 |
| Arizona | $44,780 | 20,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 | 67,740 |
| Maryland | $43,240 | 27,720 |
| Virginia | $43,200 | 40,580 |
| Delaware | $42,030 | 5,530 |
| Montana | $40,900 | 4,390 |
| Nebraska | $40,000 | 16,450 |
| Utah | $39,840 | 12,260 |
| Michigan | $39,570 | 43,290 |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | 4,750 |
| Iowa | $39,350 | 22,670 |
| Wyoming | $39,160 | 2,830 |
| Ohio | $39,010 | 63,280 |
| South Dakota | $38,800 | 6,860 |
| Idaho | $38,650 | 7,910 |
| North Carolina | $38,460 | 64,010 |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | 23,410 |
| Indiana | $38,330 | 33,640 |
| Kansas | $38,010 | 24,610 |
| Tennessee | $37,990 | 27,040 |
| Georgia | $37,680 | 43,440 |
| Missouri | $37,680 | 34,050 |
| Florida | $37,510 | 96,960 |
| Texas | $37,500 | 88,680 |
| South Carolina | $37,220 | 21,760 |
| West Virginia | $36,720 | 9,390 |
| Oklahoma | $35,930 | 19,410 |
| Arkansas | $34,430 | 17,260 |
| Alabama | $34,140 | 25,250 |
| Mississippi | $31,520 | 14,200 |
| Louisiana | $30,510 | 20,690 |
State median wages for nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for certified nursing assistants
The BLS projects employment of certified nursing assistants to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 1,505,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,544,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 196,200 openings a year for certified nursing assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a certified nursing assistant
The typical entry-level education for certified nursing assistants is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a certified nursing assistant earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Oregon, $49,830) and the lowest (Louisiana, $30,510) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 1,448,910 people work as certified nursing assistants in the United States. At $42,260 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Certified nursing assistant salary FAQ
How much does a certified nursing assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a certified nursing assistant is $20.32. The middle half of certified nursing assistants earn between $17.91 and $22.70 per hour.
What is the highest certified nursing assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of certified nursing assistants earn more than $51,980 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a certified nursing assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a certified nursing assistant is $42,260. The average (mean) wage of $42,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a certified nursing assistant a well paid job?
At $42,260 a year, a certified nursing assistant earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 1,448,910 people work as certified nursing assistants in the United States.
Which state pays certified nursing assistants the most?
Oregon has the highest median salary for certified nursing assistants at $49,830 a year. Washington ($49,180) and New York ($48,590) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a certified nursing assistant a good career?
Employment of certified nursing assistants is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 196,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a certified nursing assistant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for certified nursing assistants as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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