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!
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.
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.
Below is the list of all the states and their respective salaries:
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.
Top 50 Paying Metropolitan Areas for Nursing Assistants
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.
Top-Paying Work Settings Where CNAs Work
Industries
Annual mean wage
Government
$37,310
Hospitals; state, local, and private
$35, 870
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
$29,970
Continuing care retirement communities, and assisted living facilities for the elderly
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.
Find top-rated phlebotomy training programs near you.
Mary Joy Rumbaoa is a student support representative at Dreambound and an author. She has assisted hundreds of students in locating a suitable trade school where they can complete their training as CNAs and Phlebotomists, allowing them to obtain licenses to work in the medical field.
