Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living in the United States is $36,437 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

However, a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $41,016
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,160 to $38,834
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,087

Key Factors That Influence Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salaries

A Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $35,689
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $35,757
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $36,616
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $37,618
  • Expert (over 8 years): $37,689
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living$35,689
Intermediate Level Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living$35,757
Senior Level Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living$36,616
Specialist Level Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living$37,618
Expert Level Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living$37,689

Top Paying Cities for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $45,958
  • San Francisco: $45,455
  • Oakland: $44,497

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.61% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Acute Care (Mentioned in 3.54% Job Postings): Acute care is a branch of secondary health care where a patient receives active but short-term treatment for a severe injury or episode of illness, an urgent medical condition, or during recovery from surgery. In medical terms, care for acute health conditions is the opposite from chronic care, or longer term care. Acute care services are generally delivered by teams of health care professionals from a range of medical and surgical specialties. Acute care may require a stay in a hospital emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care centre or other short-term stay facility, along with the assistance of diagnostic services, surgery, or follow-up outpatient care in the community. Hospital-based acute inpatient care typically has the goal of discharging patients as soon as they are deemed healthy and stable. Acute care settings include emergency department, intensive care, coronary care, cardiology, neonatal intensive care, and many general areas where the patient could become acutely unwell and require stabilization and transfer to another higher dependency unit for further treatment.
  • Oral Hygiene (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): The practice of keeping your mouth clean and disease-free. It involves brushing and flossing your teeth as well as visiting your dentist regularly for dental X-rays, exams and cleanings.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.61%
Acute Care 3.54%
Oral Hygiene 2.12%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 62%.
  • Partnering: Can increase your salary by up to 51%.
  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $59,028
62%
Partnering $55,020
51%
Dedication $48,097
32%

Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $38,649. While startup companies pay approximate $32,935.

Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $32,935
Growth Stage 51~500 $34,767
Established 501~5000 $37,386
Enterprise 5000+ $38,649

Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 25% above the average. Conversely, Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$45,546$22.025%

How Education impacts an Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living with a Bachelor's Degree is between $35,500 and $37,454.

Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.1%
High School 81.6%
Associates 9.2%
Bachelors 5.0%
Masters 0.8%
Doctorate 0.2%

Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$34,160
Average $36,437/year
$38,834
$2,847
Average $3,036/month
$3,236
$657
Average $701/week
$747
$16
Average $18/hour
$19
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $38,834 $3,236 $747 $19
Average $36,437 $3,036 $701 $18
25th Percentile $34,160 $2,847 $657 $16

Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Resident Medication Assistant role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $41,309 - a projected growth of 13% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living

Here are companies hiring for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living

1. Where can a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living earn the most?

A Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living is $45,958.

2. What is the highest pay for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living?

The highest pay for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living is $41,016.

3. What is the lowest pay for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living?

The lowest pay for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living is $32,087.

4. What are the responsibilities of Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living?

Performs various direct patient care activities in a long-term care environment under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Assists patients in dressing, undressing, bathing, eating, walking, and other activities. Provides support and companionship to patients. Collects non-invasive body fluid specimens and gathers vital signs. Helps patients take medications. Aids physicians and nursing staff members with procedures if needed. Maintains documents and records related to patient care. Follows all relevant safety guidelines and regulations. Requires a high school diploma. Requires Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Requires State License. Typically reports to a registered nurse or manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Nursing Assistant - Assisted Living roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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