Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

  • RN
    • Nursing Clinical Skills
  • Nursing Videos
  • Blog
  • Nursing School
  • Nursing Care Plans
  • Nursing Quizzes
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Jobs
  • NCLEX Review
  • Store

CNA Salary and Hourly Wage

Certified nursing assistants’ salary average revealed: How much money do nursing assistants make per year or per hour?

CNA Job Duties

Certified nursing assistants (CNA) make up an integral part of the healthcare industry. They provide important care to patients, including the following:

  • measuring and recording patient vital signs
  • changing bed sheets
  • feeding, bathing, and dressing patients
  • assistant patients with mobility or transfers
  • and much more

The exact duties of nursing assistants will vary, depending on the state in which the nursing assistant works. In many states, nursing assistants can obtain additional certifications that will increase their scope of practice, which will allow them to perform duties such as drawing bodily fluids or monitoring ECGs.

CNA Salary and Hourly Wage

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2017, CNAs earned an average salary of $28,540 per year in the United States. The average hourly wage for CNAs was $13.72 per hour. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is also projecting an 11% growth rate for employment of nursing assistants between years 2016-2016, so the job outlook looks very good for this healthcare position.

CNA salary, nursing assistant income,cna pay

The latest salary average indicates a 6.41% increase in earnings when compared to the data released in 2015, which listed the average salary for nursing assistants at $26,820. You may want to view other healthcare salaries.

nurse salary, salary graph, nurse income, nurse pay

To gauge how your salary as a nursing assistant compares to other CNAs, you can view the percentile statistics below:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.94 $11.22 $13.23 $15.49 $18.57
Annual Wage $20,680 $23,330 $27,520 $32,220 $38,630

According to the chart above, if you earned $18.57 per hour, you earned more than 90% of nursing assistants in the United States in 2017, and only 10% earned more than you did.

Top Paying States for Nursing Assistants

Here are the states that reported the highest average salaries for CNAs.

State Employment Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Alaska 1,850 5.81 0.57 $18.24 $37,950
New York 94,980 10.32 1.01 $16.87 $35,080
Nevada 6,550 5.00 0.49 $16.58 $34,480
District of Columbia 3,160 4.46 0.44 $16.43 $34,170
California 98,570 5.90 0.58 $16.13 $33,560

CNA Salary for all 50 States

Alaska was the highest paying state for CNAs in 2017. The state paid nursing assistants an average salary of $37,950, and an average hourly wage of $18.24.

Louisiana was the lowest paying state for CNAs in 2017, with nursing assistants earning an average salary of $21,880 per year, and an average hourly wage of $10.52.

Keep in mind, however, that salary figures can be misleading without proper context. You must also consider things like the cost of living in each state. Furthermore, these numbers are only averages, and some CNAs may make more money, and others will make less than the listed amounts. Things like the individual’s experience, the state in which the individual works, additional certifications obtained, and the specific employment industry can affect annual earnings for nursing assistants.

Here are the salary and employment figures for all 50 states:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Alabama 23,280 $11.08 $23,050
Alaska 1,850 $18.24 $37,950
Arizona 14,300 $14.65 $30,470
Arkansas 18,040 $11.53 $23,970
California 98,570 $16.13 $33,560
Colorado 20,540 $15.41 $32,040
Connecticut 21,710 $15.85 $32,970
Delaware 4,830 $14.30 $29,740
District of Columbia 3,160 $16.43 $34,170
Florida 92,190 $12.47 $25,930
Georgia 36,270 $11.94 $24,840
Guam 250 $12.79 $26,610
Hawaii 5,080 $16.08 $33,440
Idaho 7,470 $12.72 $26,450
Illinois 61,390 $13.35 $27,770
Indiana 31,520 $12.53 $26,070
Iowa 20,740 $13.60 $28,300
Kansas 22,590 $12.16 $25,290
Kentucky 23,880 $12.46 $25,920
Louisiana 20,550 $10.52 $21,880
Maine 9,070 $13.10 $27,250
Maryland 28,250 $14.65 $30,470
Massachusetts 38,370 $15.55 $32,340
Michigan 50,070 $14.04 $29,200
Minnesota 31,580 $15.65 $32,560
Mississippi 12,850 $10.96 $22,790
Missouri 40,190 $12.19 $25,360
Montana 6,170 $13.01 $27,070
Nebraska 14,540 $13.29 $27,650
Nevada 6,550 $16.58 $34,480
New Hampshire 8,270 $14.91 $31,000
New Jersey 56,660 $14.14 $29,400
New Mexico 6,190 $13.00 $27,050
New York 94,980 $16.87 $35,080
North Carolina 62,820 $11.87 $24,680
North Dakota 7,310 $15.81 $32,880
Ohio 66,160 $12.85 $26,740
Oklahoma 16,900 $11.91 $24,770
Oregon 12,800 $15.48 $32,190
Pennsylvania 75,020 $14.43 $30,010
Puerto Rico 370 $9.91 $20,610
Rhode Island 9,950 $14.68 $30,540
South Carolina 20,730 $11.93 $24,810
South Dakota 5,940 $12.48 $25,970
Tennessee 29,600 $12.07 $25,090
Texas 88,500 $12.69 $26,390
Utah 9,850 $12.57 $26,150
Vermont 3,290 $14.29 $29,720
Virgin Islands 200 $13.31 $27,690
Virginia 39,010 $13.42 $27,920
Washington 29,910 $14.62 $30,410
West Virginia 7,900 $12.50 $25,990
Wisconsin 33,230 $13.86 $28,830
Wyoming 3,070 $14.41 $29,970

Top Paying Industries for Nursing Assistants

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Federal Executive Branch 14,140 0.70 $18.43 $38,340
Facilities Support Services 30 0.02 $17.88 $37,180
Scientific Research and Development Services 450 0.07 $17.42 $36,240
Educational Support Services 60 0.04 $17.13 $35,630
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3,110 0.10 $16.49 $34,290

CNA Salary and Employment by Industry

Here are the nursing assistant salary and employment figures for each industry, as reported by the BLS.

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Cross-industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local Government 1,453,670 $13.72 $28,540
Cross-industry, Private Ownership Only 1,324,160 $13.59 $28,270
Sector 42 – Wholesale Trade 40 $12.43 $25,850
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 40            –            –
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 40            –            –
Sectors 44 and 45 – Retail Trade            – $13.81 $28,730
Sector 51 – Information 240            –            –
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries 240            –            –
Motion Picture and Video Industries 240            –            –
Sector 52 – Finance and Insurance 80 $15.24 $31,700
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities 80 $15.16 $31,530
Insurance Carriers 80 $15.36 $31,950
Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers 80 $15.36 $31,950
Sector 54 – Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 520 $16.72 $34,770
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 520 $16.72 $34,770
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services            – $11.52 $23,960
Scientific Research and Development Services 450 $17.42 $36,240
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences 450 $17.42 $36,240
Sector 55 – Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,470 $14.18 $29,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,470 $14.18 $29,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,470 $14.18 $29,500
Sector 56- Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 39,570 $13.88 $28,870
Administrative and Support Services 39,570 $13.88 $28,870
Facilities Support Services 30 $17.88 $37,180
Employment Services 39,300 $13.88 $28,870
Temporary Help Services 33,890 $13.91 $28,930
Sector 61 – Educational Services 8,740 $14.99 $31,190
Educational Services 8,740 $14.99 $31,190
Educational Services – State government owned 2,330 $15.76 $32,780
Educational Services – Local government owned 4,980 $14.49 $30,130
Educational Services – Privately owned 1,430 $15.52 $32,290
Elementary and Secondary Schools 5,450 $14.16 $29,440
Elementary and Secondary Schools – Local government owned 4,610 $14.24 $29,620
Elementary and Secondary Schools – Privately owned 770 $13.79 $28,690
Junior Colleges 50 $15.15 $31,500
Junior colleges – Local government owned 30 $13.94 $28,990
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 3,110 $16.49 $34,290
Colleges, universities, and professional schools – State government owned 2,250 $15.84 $32,950
Colleges, universities, and professional schools – Local government owned 310 $17.91 $37,240
Colleges, universities, and professional schools – Privately owned 560 $18.30 $38,060
Educational Support Services 60 $17.13 $35,630
Educational Support Services – Privately owned 30 $16.46 $34,240
Sector 62 – Health Care and Social Assistance 1,344,390 $13.62 $28,330
Ambulatory Health Care Services 119,870 $13.66 $28,400
Offices of Physicians 20,760 $14.63 $30,440
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 5,640 $13.71 $28,520
Offices of Mental Health Practitioners 40 $11.66 $24,260
Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists 4,030 $12.97 $26,980
Offices of All Other Health Practitioners 1,540 $15.69 $32,640
Outpatient Care Centers 13,330 $15.47 $32,180
Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers 1,070 $13.53 $28,150
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories 350 $14.02 $29,160
Home Health Care Services 78,940 $13.08 $27,210
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services 800 $13.63 $28,350
All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services            – $13.78 $28,670
Hospitals 399,500 $14.72 $30,630
Hospitals – State government owned 18,820 $15.13 $31,480
Hospitals – Local government owned 46,130 $14.18 $29,500
Hospitals – Privately owned 334,550 $14.78 $30,730
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 365,360 $14.73 $30,640
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – State government owned 13,100 $15.63 $32,520
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – Local government owned 45,880 $14.18 $29,490
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals – Privately owned 306,380 $14.77 $30,730
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals 7,610 $13.63 $28,350
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals – State government owned 4,250 $13.71 $28,510
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals – Privately owned 3,200 $13.39 $27,840
Specialty  Hospitals 26,530 $14.96 $31,120
Specialty hospitals – State government owned 1,470 $14.78 $30,750
Specialty hospitals – Privately owned 24,970 $14.98 $31,160
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities 786,760 $13.12 $27,290
Nursing Care Facilities 594,460 $13.20 $27,470
Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities 23,680 $12.97 $26,990
Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities 19,450 $12.81 $26,650
Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities 4,240 $13.72 $28,550
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 164,580 $12.84 $26,700
Other Residential Care Facilities 4,030 $12.87 $26,760
Social Assistance 38,260 $12.32 $25,630
Individual and Family Services 36,650 $12.29 $25,560
Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities 33,720 $12.11 $25,190
Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services 100 $13.67 $28,440
Vocational Rehabilitation Services 1,280 $13.07 $27,190
Child Day Care Services            – $13.12 $27,300
Sector 81 – Other Services 1,100 $14.26 $29,660
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations 1,080 $14.27 $29,690
Religious Organizations 820 $14.73 $30,630
Grantmaking and Giving Services 50 $9.87 $20,540
Sector 99 – Federal, State, and Local Government 57,260 $15.72 $32,700
Federal, State, and Local Government 57,260 $15.72 $32,700
Federal, State, and Local Government, including government owned schools and hospitals 129,520 $15.04 $31,290
Federal Executive Branch 14,140 $18.43 $38,340
Federal government, including USPS 14,140 $18.43 $38,340
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals 17,500 $15.11 $31,430
State Government, including schools and hospitals 38,650 $15.16 $31,530
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals 25,620 $14.64 $30,460
Local Government, including schools and hospitals 76,730 $14.36 $29,860

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017 Edition, Nursing Assistants, on the Internet at bls.gov.

Please Share:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Nursing Gear

RSS Latest YouTube Videos

  • Do Nurses Really Need to Know This?
  • This Vein is Going to Roll... Nurse IV Insertion Tips #shorts
  • Nursing Graduation Spring Class of 2022: Congratulations!!
  • 6 Reasons to Become a Nurse #shorts

Recent Posts

  • Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Nursing Review
  • Sinus Tachycardia ECG/EKG Rhythm Quiz
  • Crying in Nursing School
  • Desired over Have by Weight Examples Dosage Calculations
  • Tablets and Capsules Dosage Calculations (Desired over Have Method)

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Copyright Notice: Do not copy this site, articles, images, or its contents without permission.

Important Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook Nursing
  • Instagram Nursing
  • TikTok Nurse
  • Twitter Nursing
  • YouTube Nursing

Get Free Email Updates:

Enter your email address below and hit "Submit" to receive free email updates and nursing tips.

Copyright © 2022 RegisteredNurseRN.com. All Rights Reserved.