CNA Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 1.4 million Certified Nursing Assistants employed in 2020.

And in the next ten years, we can expect a job growth of 8% for CNAs.

So, by 2030, there will be around 1,512,000 CNAs employed in the U.S.

What would this growth mean for your salary?

Such growth means that there are demands for CNAs in nursing facilities to cater to the aging population.

And so, with it comes more competitive salary offers.

In the succeeding sections, we’ll explore more about the salary information and the factors that affect it.

How Much Does a CNA Earn?

Per BLS, as of May 2021, you can expect to receive an average pay of…

  • Annually – $30,310
  • Hourly – $14.56

Meanwhile, other major compensation websites reported the following numbers as of May 2022:

HourlyAnnually
PayScale$13.85$30,513
SimplyHired*$36,231
Indeed$19.17$43,311
Salary.com$16$33,793
Zip Recruiter$14.05$29,221

*National average hourly pay for SimplyHired can’t be retrieved.
**Salary information for Salary.com were as of April 2022.

Factors That Impact a CNA’s Salary

Location

One of the biggest contributing factors that influence salary is location—your workplace’s location.

As such, the salaries of CNAs vary greatly from state to state.

The table below shows the average hourly and annual salary* that you can expect to receive if you work in these states.

StateHourly PayAverage Annual Salary
Alabama$12.78$26,590
Alaska$20.71$43,080
Arizona$16.64$34,610
Arkansas$13.38$27,840
California$19.12$39,760
Colorado$16.93$35,210
Connecticut$17.36$36,110
Delaware$16.46$34,240
District of Columbia$18.94$39,390
Florida$14.35$29,840
Georgia$14.71$30,600
Hawaii$17.64$36,680
Idaho$14.61$30,380
Illinois$15.97$33,230
Indiana$14.96$31,110
Iowa$15.60$32,440
Kansas$14.30$29,730
Kentucky$14.08$29,290
Louisiana$12.43$25,840
Maine$16.52$34,360
Maryland$16.37$34,040
Massachusetts$18.12$37,680
Michigan$16.25$33,790
Minnesota$17.66$36,730
Mississippi$12.35$25,690
Missouri$14.19$29,520
Montana$15.41$32,050
Nebraska$15.57$32,380
Nevada$17.22$35,820
New Hampshire$17.34$36,070
New Jersey$17.23$35,830
New Mexico$15.20$31,620
New York$19.56$40,680
North Carolina$14.14$29,410
North Dakota$17.34$36,070
Ohio$15.06$31,330
Oklahoma$13.39$27,850
Oregon$18.67$38,830
Pennsylvania$16.44$34,190
Rhode Island$17.12$35,610
South Carolina$14.07$29,260
South Dakota$14.26$29,660
Tennessee$13.89$28,900
Texas$14.72$30,620
Utah$14.72$30,630
Vermont$16.63$34,600
Virginia$14.85$30,890
Washington$18.40$38,270
West Virginia$14.21$29,560
Wisconsin$16.28$33,870
Wyoming$16.07$33,430

*Salary information retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

Industry

Fact: Some industries pay more than others.

However, new CNAs make the mistake of jumping into the first job offer they receive without further consideration.

So before you accept employment, be sure to research the industry the prospective employer belongs to.

You might find that working in one industry will give you more monetary benefits than the other.

In the table below, you’ll find the top-paying industries* for CNAs.

IndustryHourlyAnnually
Junior Colleges$29.48$61,310
Scientific Research and Development Services$21.43$44,580
Insurance Carriers$20.58$42,810
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)$20.12$41,850
Technical and Trade Schools$19.36$40,280
Specialty Hospitals (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse)$17.02$35,400
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals$16.92$35,190
Employment Services$16.83$35,000
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)$15.43$32,090
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly$15.15$31,520
Home Health Care Services$14.39$29,930

*Salary information retrieved from BLS Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

Education

Early in your career, it’s always a good idea to invest more in continuing education and any specialization.

In this way, you can gain more certifications and specialized training that help in your career development.

Some of the specializations that you can consider are as follows:

  • Adult Day Care Aide
  • Cardiology Aide
  • Developmentally Disabled Direct Care Aide
  • Geriatrics Aide
  • Home Health Aide
  • Long Term Care Aide
  • Medication Aide
  • Pediatrics Aide
  • Psychiatry Aide
  • Residential Care Aide

Experience

Your experience influences how much salary you’ll take home.

The table below shows the increase in the hourly pay retrieved from PayScale as of May 2022.

Years of ExperienceHourly Pay
Entry Level< 1 Year$12.72
Early Career1 to 4 Years$13.14
Mid Career5 to 9 Years$13.79
Late Career10 to 19 Years$14.42
Experienced20+ Years$14.96

 

How Soon Can a CNA Start Earning Salary?

Usually, you can start earning a salary once you’re employed after earning your CNA certification.

But that’s not the case if you take a facility-based CNA training program.

Here, the nursing facility will shoulder your training and certification in exchange for work.

In other words, they become your employer.

How a CNA’s Salary Compares with Other Relevant Healthcare Professions

In healthcare, many professionals provide health and wellness to patients.

Limiting to careers relevant to CNAs, these healthcare professionals include the following:

  • Registered Nurse – $68,237 per year
  • RN – Critical Care – $77,808 per year
  • Licensed Practical Nurse – $47,597 per year
  • Patient Care Technician – $33,164 per year
  • Family Nurse Practitioner – $98,041 per year
  • Staff Nurse – $70,856 per year

Because these healthcare professionals receive a more comprehensive nursing program, they earn more money.

If you, the CNA, want to earn as much as them, you can use your current job as a stepping stone to level up to any of those professions.

Compensation and Benefits

Aside from a steady salary, you can also receive compensation and benefits from your employer.

At a minimum, you get to enjoy the following:

  • Paid vacation leave
  • Sick leave
  • Holiday pay
  • Overtime pay
  • Health insurance
  • Dental
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Retirement contributions