Certified Nursing Assistant Salary by State
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 31-1131 Nursing Assistants
Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), the BLS occupation for certified nursing assistants, earned a median $42,260 a year ($20.32 an hour) in May 2025.
The middle half earned between $37,260 and $47,220.
BLS counts certified nursing assistants as nursing assistants (31-1131), across nursing homes, hospitals, home health and every other setting.
OEWS covers payroll employees only.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers employed directly by private households (such as caregivers hired by families), overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Nursing Assistants
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| 25th | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| 50th (median) | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| 75th | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 90th | $51,980 | $24.99 |
| Mean (average) | $42,700 | $20.53 |
SOC 31-1131 Nursing Assistants: 1,448,910 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 31-1131 Nursing Assistants in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $42,260; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,140 | $16.41 | $28,330–$38,680 | 25,250 | −19% |
| Alaska | $46,370 | $22.29 | $39,450–$58,430 | 2,060 | +10% |
| Arizona | $44,780 | $21.53 | $37,100–$57,820 | 20,320 | +6% |
| Arkansas | $34,430 | $16.55 | $28,840–$39,020 | 17,260 | −19% |
| California | $47,630 | $22.90 | $40,110–$61,100 | 110,060 | +13% |
| Colorado | $47,380 | $22.78 | $38,690–$56,070 | 22,240 | +12% |
| Connecticut | $44,790 | $21.53 | $38,660–$53,870 | 21,380 | +6% |
| Delaware | $42,030 | $20.21 | $36,530–$48,080 | 5,530 | −1% |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 | $22.93 | $38,900–$57,500 | 3,490 | +13% |
| Florida | $37,510 | $18.03 | $34,350–$46,790 | 96,960 | −11% |
| Georgia | $37,680 | $18.12 | $30,300–$47,310 | 43,440 | −11% |
| Hawaii | $45,350 | $21.80 | $36,000–$52,660 | 5,050 | +7% |
| Idaho | $38,650 | $18.58 | $28,380–$47,430 | 7,910 | −9% |
| Illinois | $45,960 | $22.10 | $37,590–$54,050 | 68,640 | +9% |
| Indiana | $38,330 | $18.43 | $35,390–$46,890 | 33,640 | −9% |
| Iowa | $39,350 | $18.92 | $35,620–$47,980 | 22,670 | −7% |
| Kansas | $38,010 | $18.27 | $32,180–$46,980 | 24,610 | −10% |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | $18.45 | $30,390–$46,450 | 23,410 | −9% |
| Louisiana | $30,510 | $14.67 | $27,980–$37,390 | 20,690 | −28% |
| Maine | $47,070 | $22.63 | $39,100–$58,120 | 8,540 | +11% |
| Maryland | $43,240 | $20.79 | $36,060–$49,330 | 27,720 | +2% |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | $22.44 | $39,380–$57,880 | 38,130 | +10% |
| Michigan | $39,570 | $19.03 | $36,830–$46,740 | 43,290 | −6% |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | $22.44 | $38,010–$55,410 | 29,120 | +10% |
| Mississippi | $31,520 | $15.15 | $27,050–$38,290 | 14,200 | −25% |
| Missouri | $37,680 | $18.11 | $31,350–$45,260 | 34,050 | −11% |
| Montana | $40,900 | $19.67 | $36,780–$49,700 | 4,390 | −3% |
| Nebraska | $40,000 | $19.23 | $37,090–$48,980 | 16,450 | −5% |
| Nevada | $45,490 | $21.87 | $36,940–$50,680 | 8,100 | +8% |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | $23.02 | $39,140–$59,660 | 7,810 | +13% |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | $22.52 | $38,900–$55,140 | 32,400 | +11% |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | $18.94 | $34,110–$48,340 | 4,750 | −7% |
| New York | $48,590 | $23.36 | $38,450–$59,890 | 87,990 | +15% |
| North Carolina | $38,460 | $18.49 | $30,260–$47,080 | 64,010 | −9% |
| North Dakota | $45,820 | $22.03 | $35,130–$51,380 | 6,840 | +8% |
| Ohio | $39,010 | $18.76 | $35,060–$46,570 | 63,280 | −8% |
| Oklahoma | $35,930 | $17.27 | $29,630–$42,870 | 19,410 | −15% |
| Oregon | $49,830 | $23.96 | $43,210–$61,310 | 14,800 | +18% |
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 | $21.44 | $37,760–$49,360 | 67,740 | +6% |
| Rhode Island | $46,440 | $22.33 | $39,220–$54,950 | 10,220 | +10% |
| South Carolina | $37,220 | $17.90 | $30,460–$44,760 | 21,760 | −12% |
| South Dakota | $38,800 | $18.65 | $31,110–$46,100 | 6,860 | −8% |
| Tennessee | $37,990 | $18.27 | $31,110–$44,660 | 27,040 | −10% |
| Texas | $37,500 | $18.03 | $30,620–$47,500 | 88,680 | −11% |
| Utah | $39,840 | $19.15 | $34,870–$47,080 | 12,260 | −6% |
| Vermont | $47,130 | $22.66 | $37,620–$59,600 | 3,030 | +12% |
| Virginia | $43,200 | $20.77 | $31,560–$50,980 | 40,580 | +2% |
| Washington | $49,180 | $23.65 | $42,500–$62,660 | 30,270 | +16% |
| West Virginia | $36,720 | $17.66 | $31,060–$45,290 | 9,390 | −13% |
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | $21.70 | $37,900–$50,650 | 28,370 | +7% |
| Wyoming | $39,160 | $18.83 | $33,390–$49,610 | 2,830 | −7% |
Pay by employer type
National median for nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131) by the industry of the employer, BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates.
| Employer industry | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing) | $43,000 | $20.67 | 534,270 |
| Hospitals | $42,310 | $20.34 | 479,330 |
| Assisted living and continuing care retirement communities | $39,490 | $18.99 | 161,150 |
| Home health care services | $38,040 | $18.29 | 70,770 |
| Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities | $35,360 | $17.00 | 30,660 |
Selected senior care and health care industries only; the national figure above covers every industry.
Job outlook for Nursing Assistants
BLS projects employment of nursing assistants to grow from about 1,505,900 in 2025 to 1,544,900 in 2035 (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
The projection counts include the self-employed and come from a different BLS program, so they are not directly comparable with the OEWS payroll job count above.
Pay by senior care role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Certified nursing assistants match a BLS occupation, nursing assistants.
Caregivers, personal care aides and home health aides are counted in home health and personal care aides, which BLS publishes as one combined group, and home health and hospice nurses in registered nurses.
The other titles borrow the closest available occupation, labelled in the last column.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver | $35,800 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | BLS occupation (SOC 31-1131) |
| Personal Care Aide | $35,800 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Companion Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Live-In Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Private Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Respite Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Memory Care Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Home Health Aide | $35,800 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Hospice Aide | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Medication Aide | $42,260 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1131) |
| Resident Care Aide | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Home Health Nurse | $97,550 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 29-1141) |
| Hospice Nurse | $97,550 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 29-1141) |
| Hospice Social Worker | $67,880 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 21-1022) |
| Hospice Chaplain | $60,810 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 21-2011) |
| Director of Nursing | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Home Care Scheduler | $45,930 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 43-6013) |
| Care Coordinator | $45,930 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 21-1093) |
| Home Care Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Home Health Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Assisted Living Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Nursing Home Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Activities Director | $36,560 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 39-9032) |
| Memory Care Director | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
Certified Nursing Assistant salary questions
01How much do certified nursing assistants make a year?
The median annual wage for nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131) was $42,260 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
Half earned more and half earned less.
The 10th percentile was $33,940 and the 90th percentile $51,980.
02How much do certified nursing assistants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for nursing assistants was $20.32 in May 2025.
BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime or bonuses.
03Which state pays nursing assistants the most?
For nursing assistants, Oregon had the highest median in May 2025 at $49,830.
Louisiana had the lowest at $30,510.
These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average certified nursing assistant salary?
The mean (average) annual wage for nursing assistants was $42,700 in May 2025, against a $42,260 median.
The median is the better guide to a typical salary, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up.
05Is demand for certified nursing assistants growing?
BLS projects employment of nursing assistants to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,505,900 to 1,544,900 jobs, with about 196,200 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
Those projection counts include the self-employed and come from a different BLS program, so they are not directly comparable with the OEWS payroll job count on this page.
06Where do CNAs earn the most?
Of the employer types in the table above, nursing care facilities (skilled nursing) paid nursing assistants the highest median in May 2025, $20.67 an hour, and services for the elderly and persons with disabilities the lowest, $17.00 (BLS OEWS industry estimates).
BLS publishes no CNA figure by shift or years of experience.
07Do CNAs earn more than home health aides?
Yes, as a group.
The national median for nursing assistants was $20.32 an hour in May 2025, $3.11 above the $17.21 median for home health and personal care aides, which BLS publishes as one combined occupation (BLS OEWS).