SOC 31-1131 · May 2025
CNA Salary
Cnas in the US earn a median of $42,260 a year ($20.53 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Cna pay climbed from $30,720 in 2019 to $42,700 in 2025, a +39.0% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$42,260
Half of all Cnas in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+39.0% since 2019 · +3.5% YoY
Hourly
$20.53
Job growth 2025-35
+2.6%
US workers
1,448,910
BLS series
Annual median wage for Nursing Assistants in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Cnas is $33,940 – $51,980.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$33,940
25th
$37,260
Median
$42,260
75th
$47,220
90th
$51,980
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Cnas. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $33,940 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $37,260 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $42,260 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $47,220 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $51,980 |
Geography
Cna pay by state
Cnas earn the most in Oregon ($49,830, +18% against the national median) and the least in Louisiana ($30,510). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$42,260
Highest-paying states for cnas
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 | +18% | 14,800 |
| Washington | $49,180 | +16% | 30,270 |
| New York | $48,590 | +15% | 87,990 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | +13% | 7,810 |
| D.C. | $47,700 | +13% | 3,490 |
| California | $47,630 | +13% | 110,060 |
| Colorado | $47,380 | +12% | 22,240 |
| Vermont | $47,130 | +12% | 3,030 |
| Maine | $47,070 | +11% | 8,540 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | +11% | 32,400 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 | 14,800 |
| Washington | $49,180 | 30,270 |
| New York | $48,590 | 87,990 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | 7,810 |
| D.C. | $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 |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | 29,120 |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | 38,130 |
| 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 |
| Missouri | $37,680 | 34,050 |
| Georgia | $37,680 | 43,440 |
| 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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Cnas
Certified Nursing Assistants provide direct patient care under the supervision of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Duties include bathing, feeding, transferring, and recording vital signs. CNAs work primarily in nursing homes, hospitals, and home health settings. Certification requires a state-approved training program (typically 75-150 hours) and a competency exam. CNA is often a stepping-stone role into LPN or RN training.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $33,940 – $51,980. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Oregon, Washington and New York. Pay in Oregon runs 1.6 times the level in Louisiana, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 196,200 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 2.6% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Cna salary in the US?
How much does a Cna make an hour?
How much do Cnas make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Cnas the most?
Is the average Cna salary higher than the median?
Is Cna a growing career?
Open positions
Open Cna roles hiring now
Browse current Cna listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 31-1131. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.