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Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Nursing Assistant in the United States is $34,701 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,006
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,120 to $36,431
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $27,860

Key Factors That Influence Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries

A Certified Nursing Assistant'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 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Nursing Assistant'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:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (0-0 years): $34,701
  • Nursing Assistant - Non-certified (0-1 years): $34,987
  • Patient Care Technician (PCT) (1-3 years): $38,779
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Certified Nursing Assistant0-0 years$34,701
Nursing Assistant - Non-certified0-1 years$34,987
Patient Care Technician (PCT)1-3 years$38,779

Top Paying Cities for Certified Nursing Assistant

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: $43,768
  • San Francisco: $43,289
  • Oakland: $42,377

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.53% 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.
  • Long Term Care (Mentioned in 4.69% Job Postings): Long-term care (LTC) is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods. Long term care is focused on individualized and coordinated services that promote independence, maximize patients' quality of life, and meet patients' needs over a period of time. It is common for long-term care to provide custodial and non-skilled care, such as assisting with normal daily tasks like dressing, feeding, using the bathroom. Increasingly, long-term care involves providing a level of medical care that requires the expertise of skilled practitioners to address the multiple chronic conditions associated with older populations. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes. Long-term care may be needed by people of any age, although it is a more common need for senior citizens.
  • Home Care (Mentioned in 2.18% Job Postings): Homecare is health care or supportive care provided by a professional caregiver in the individual home where the patient or client is living, as opposed to care provided in group accommodations like clinics or nursing home.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.53%
Long Term Care 4.69%
Home Care 2.18%

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's salary.

  • Dialysis: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Attention to Detail: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dialysis $39,559
14%
Attention to Detail $36,783
6%
Initiative $36,436
5%

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

Certified Nursing Assistant salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $37,000. While startup companies pay approximate $31,477.

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $31,477
Growth Stage 51~500 $33,245
Established 501~5000 $35,776
Enterprise 5000+ $37,000

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Nursing Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 40% above the average. Conversely, Certified Nursing Assistant positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Nursing Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Nursing Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$48,581$23.040%

How Education impacts an Certified Nursing Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Certified Nursing Assistant 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 with a Bachelor's Degree is between $35,451 and $37,339.

Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Certified Nursing Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.7%
High School 78.7%
Associates 11.4%
Bachelors 7.6%
Masters 0.6%
Doctorate 0.0%

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

Understanding how a Certified Nursing Assistant'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
$31,120
Average $34,701/year
$36,431
$2,593
Average $2,892/month
$3,036
$598
Average $667/week
$701
$15
Average $17/hour
$18
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $36,431 $3,036 $701 $18
Average $34,701 $2,892 $667 $17
25th Percentile $31,120 $2,593 $598 $15

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Certified Nursing Assistant, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Nursing Assistant - Non-certified role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $34,987 - a projected growth of 1% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Certified Nursing Assistant

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

Common company salaries for Certified Nursing Assistant

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

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FAQ about Certified Nursing Assistant

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

A Certified Nursing Assistant'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 earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Certified Nursing Assistant is $43,768.

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

The highest pay for Certified Nursing Assistant is $38,006.

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

The lowest pay for Certified Nursing Assistant is $27,860.

4. What are the responsibilities of Certified Nursing Assistant?

Performs various direct patient care activities under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Assists patients in dressing, undressing, bathing, eating, walking, and other activities. Ensures patients' safety, well-being, and comfort. 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. Communicates with patients, their families, and other care providers. 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?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Certified Nursing Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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