CNA Salary: How Much Does a CNA Make?
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A certified nursing assistant earns a national median of $42,260 a year, about $20.32 an hour, as of May 2025. Most CNAs fall between roughly $33,946 at entry level and $51,979 with experience, and where you land in that range depends mostly on three things: your state, your work setting, and your years on the job. The highest-paying states and settings can run more than ten thousand dollars above the national median, while home health and the lowest-paying states sit well below it. The difference between a $34,000 CNA job and a $52,000 one is rarely luck; it is mostly those levers, and several of them are ones you can move.
Certified Nursing Assistant - Williams Career School of Excellence
- Format: Hybrid
- Tuition: $725 to start, $1,450 total
- No high school diploma or GED required, and you can start at age 16
- Day, evening, and weekend schedules
Compare these and other CNA classes near you on Dreambound to find one that fits your schedule and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state pays CNAs the most?
Oregon, Washington, New York, California, and Washington, D.C. pay CNAs the most, with medians in the high $40,000s, topping out at $49,830 in Oregon, well above the $42,260 national median. The lowest-paying states are Louisiana and Mississippi, near $30,000 to $31,500. Cost of living tends to track the wage, so weigh pay against local expenses before relocating.
What type of CNA gets paid the most?
By setting, CNAs earn the most in government and hospital jobs and the least in home health. By role, travel CNAs and those with specialty certifications, such as medication aides, tend to earn above the staff median. Experience and night or weekend shifts push pay higher in any setting.
How much does a CNA make an hour?
A CNA earns a national median of $20.32 an hour, which works out to about $3,522 a month or $42,260 a year, as of May 2025. Entry-level pay starts closer to $16 an hour, while experienced CNAs in high-paying states earn well above $25.
How can a CNA make more money?
The fastest raises come from moving into a higher-paying setting like a hospital or government job, picking up night, weekend, or overtime shifts, and building experience. Travel CNA contracts and specialty certifications pay above staff rates. Relocating helps only if the higher wage beats the higher cost of living.
What CNA Pay Really Comes Down To
The $42,260 median is a starting point, not a ceiling. What actually decides a CNA's pay is the setting, the state, and the experience behind the badge, and those shift over a career rather than staying fixed.
Start by training somewhere affordable, get your hours in a setting that pays, and the climb from the entry floor toward the experienced ceiling follows. Compare CNA programs on Dreambound to find a fast, affordable way in, and use the salary explorer to see what the job pays where you live.
