Are you thinking about becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)? If so, you might be wondering how much money CNAs make. The answer depends on several factors: experience, education, and geographic location. Did you know that Alaska is the highest-paying state for CNA jobs?

If you're considering a career as a CNA, the prospects look good! Over the next decade, there will be an average of 220,200 job openings yearly. With wages growing around 5% throughout 2021-2031, now is the perfect time to start your CNA journey!

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How Much Do CNAs Earn?

Where you work, how much experience you have, and your certifications all play a role in determining your compensation as a CNA.

According to the  BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), CNAs earn a median hourly rate of $14.56 and a median annual wage of $30,310 as of May 2021. The lowest 10% earned less than $23,880, while the highest 10% earned more than $44,240.

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CNA Salary by State

Working as a CNA can be financially rewarding, but the salary for this role varies widely depending on factors like geographical location and experience level. A person's skillset also plays an integral part in determining how much they could earn.

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Below is the list of all the states and their respective salaries:

Alabama:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $12.78

• Annual Mean Wage: $26,590

Alaska:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $20.71

• Annual Mean Wage: $43,080

Arizona:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.64

• Annual Mean Wage: $34,610

Arkansas:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $13.38

• Annual Mean Wage: $27,840

California:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.12

• Annual Mean Wage: $39,760

Colorado:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.93

• Annual Mean Wage: $35,210

Connecticut:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.36

• Annual Mean Wage: $36,110

Delaware:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.46

• Annual Mean Wage: $34,240

District of Columbia:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.94

• Annual Mean Wage: $39,390

Florida:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.35

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,840

Georgia:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.71

• Annual Mean Wage: $30,600

Hawaii:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.64

• Annual Mean Wage: $36,680

Idaho:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.61

• Annual Mean Wage: $30,380

Illinois:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $15.97

• Annual Mean Wage: $33,230

Indiana:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.96

• Annual Mean Wage: $31,110

Iowa:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $15.60

• Annual Mean Wage: $32,440

Kansas:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.30

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,730

Kentucky:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.08

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,290

Louisiana:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $12.43

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,290

Maine:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.52

• Annual Mean Wage: $34,360

Maryland:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.37

• Annual Mean Wage: $34,040

Massachusetts:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.12

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,680

Michigan:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.25

• Annual Mean Wage: $33,790

Minnesota:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.66

• Annual Mean Wage: $36,730

Mississippi:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $12.35

• Annual Mean Wage: $25,690

Missouri:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.19

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,520

Montana:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $15.41

• Annual Mean Wage: $32,050

Nebraska:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $15.57

• Annual Mean Wage: $32,380

Nevada:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.22

• Annual Mean Wage: $35,820

New Hampshire:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.34

• Annual Mean Wage: $36,070

New Jersey:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.23

• Annual Mean Wage: $35,830

New Mexico:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $15.20

• Annual Mean Wage: $31,620

New York:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.56

• Annual Mean Wage: $40,680

North Carolina:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.14

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,410

North Dakota:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.34

• Annual Mean Wage: $36,070

Ohio:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $15.06

• Annual Mean Wage: $31,330

Oklahoma:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $13.39

• Annual Mean Wage: $27,850

Oregon:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.67

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,830

Pennsylvania:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.44

• Annual Mean Wage: $34,190

Rhode Island:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.12

• Annual Mean Wage: $35,610

South Carolina:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.07

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,260

South Dakota:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.26

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,660

Tennessee:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $13.89

• Annual Mean Wage: $28,900

Texas:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.72

• Annual Mean Wage: $30,620

Utah:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.72

• Annual Mean Wage: $30,630

Vermont:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.63

• Annual Mean Wage: $34,600

Virginia:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.85

• Annual Mean Wage: $30,890

Washington:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.40

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,270

West Virginia:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $14.21

• Annual Mean Wage: $29,560

Wisconsin:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.28

• Annual Mean Wage: $33,870

Wyoming:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.07

• Annual Mean Wage: $33,430

Guam:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $13.38

• Annual Mean Wage: $27,830

Puerto Rico:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $9.17

• Annual Mean Wage: $19,070

Virgin Islands:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $16.96

• Annual Mean Wage: $35,270

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Top-paying States for Nursing Assistants

Alaska:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $20.71

• Annual Mean Wage: $43,080

New York:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.56

• Annual Mean Wage: $40,680

California:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.12

• Annual Mean Wage: $39,760

District of Columbia:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.94

• Annual Mean Wage: $39,390

Oregon:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.67

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,830

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

According to the BLS, the mean hourly pay for Nursing Assistants in Alaska is $20.17, and the mean yearly salary is $43,080. This is 23% more than the CNA pay average across the country.

Alaska pays Nursing Assistants more than New York and California in an attempt to draw in workers from other states. Because of Alaska's remote location away from the central United States, they historically pay a higher hourly wage than other states despite the cost of living.

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Top 50 Paying Metropolitan Areas for Nursing Assistants

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $22.93

• Annual Mean Wage: $47,690

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $22.84

• Annual Mean Wage: $47,500

Salinas, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $21.26

• Annual Mean Wage: $44,210

Fairbanks, AK:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $21.10

• Annual Mean Wage: $43,880

Napa, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $20.34

• Annual Mean Wage: $42,310

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $20.17

• Annual Mean Wage: $41,940

Anchorage, AK:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.99

• Annual Mean Wage: $41,580

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.74

• Annual Mean Wage: $41,070

Santa Rosa, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.60

• Annual Mean Wage: $40,770

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.51

• Annual Mean Wage: $40,590

Salem, OR:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.50

• Annual Mean Wage: $40,560

Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.19

• Annual Mean Wage: $39,910

Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.04

• Annual Mean Wage: $39,590

Vallejo-Fairfield, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $19.00

• Annual Mean Wage: $39,520

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.74

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,990

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.69

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,880

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.63

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,750

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.60

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,690

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.55

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,580

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.49

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,460

Bend-Redmond, OR:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.34

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,150

Madera, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.32

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,110

Ann Arbor, MI:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.31

• Annual Mean Wage: $38,090

Modesto, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.24

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,940

Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.22

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,900

San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.22

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,900

Barnstable Town, MA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.20

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,860

Yuba City, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.16

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,760

Rochester, MN:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.12

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,680

Stockton-Lodi, CA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.11

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,660

Eugene, OR:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $18.04

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,520

Madison, WI:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.95

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,330

Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.87

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,180

Boulder, CO:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.84

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,110

Bellingham, WA:

• Hourly Mean Wage: $17.82

• Annual Mean Wage: $37,060

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

California has a base salary of $22.58 per hour, which is 15% higher than the national average. But, the pay varies per metropolitan area in the state. They contributed the highest proportion of US metros in the Top 50 paying metropolitan areas for CNAs. Working in California as a CNA can earn you more than in any other state, but there are other factors to consider, such as the cost of living.

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Top-Paying Work Settings Where CNAs Work

• Government:

  • Annual Mean Wage: $37,310

• Hospitals; state, local, and private:

  • Annual Mean Wage: $35,870

• Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities):

  • Annual Mean Wage: $29,970

• Continuing care retirement communities, and assisted living facilities for the elderly:

  • Annual Mean Wage: $29,900

• Home healthcare services:

  • Annual Mean Wage: $29,280

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The two most common work settings for CNAs are nursing care facilities and hospitals. Skilled nursing facilities rank the highest levels for employment and the highest concentrations of Nursing Assistants in the healthcare industry. Assisted living facilities and retirement communities for the elderly are next in line for the amount of CNAs.

Despite the fact that Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) have the highest concentration of CNAs, government jobs pay the most compared to other work settings listed above.

Now that you know what salary range you can expect to work as a CNA, you feel ready for this career. Dreambound is your one-stop shop for finding a CNA school near you.