Patient Care Nurse Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Patient Care Nurse Assistant make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Patient Care Nurse Assistant in the United States is $35,105 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

However, a Patient Care Nurse Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,543
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,182 to $36,905
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $27,610
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View as table View as graph 25% $31,182 10% $27,610 90% $38,543 75% $36,905 $35,105 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Patient Care Nurse Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $36,905 $3,075 $710 $18
Average $35,105 $2,925 $675 $17
25th Percentile $31,182 $2,598 $600 $15
Check out Patient Care Nurse Assistant Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Patient Care Nurse Assistant Salaries

A Patient Care Nurse 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.

Top Paying Cities for Patient Care Nurse Assistants

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: $44,278
  • San Francisco: $43,793
  • Oakland: $42,870

What Skills Can Increase a Patient Care Nurse 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.
See More Skills
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 Patient Care Nurse 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
$40,020
14%
Attention to Detail
$37,212
6%
Initiative
$36,860
5%
Collaboration
$36,860
5%
Cardiac
$36,509
4%
Organizational Skills
$36,509
4%
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Patient Care Nurse Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Patient Care Nurse 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, Patient Care Nurse Assistant positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Patient Care Nurse Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Patient Care Nurse Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$49,147$24.040%

How Education impacts a Patient Care Nurse Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Patient Care Nurse Assistants enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Patient Care Nurse Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $35,160 and $37,049).

Patient Care Nurse Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Patient Care Nurse 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%
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Patient Care Nurse Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Patient Care Nurse 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

Salary Trends for Patient Care Nurse Assistant

Salaries for a Patient Care Nurse Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $51,145 in 2023 to around $51,782 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Patient Care Nurse Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Patient Care Nurse Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$51,145
2024
$51,957
2025
$51,782
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $51,145
2024 $51,957
2025 $51,782
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Patient Care Nurse Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Patient Care Nurse Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Patient Care Nurse Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Patient Care Nurse Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Patient Care Nurse Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Pointe Frontier Retirement Community

    Columbus, OH

    Pointe Frontier Retirement Community | Columbus, OH

    LPN Resident Care Nurse. The LPN Resident Care Nurse delivers quality assisted living services through interpersonal contact and provides services focused ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • AMN Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    AMN Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Travel RN-ICU Columbus, OH. RN-ICU jobs in Columbus, OH let you care for cancer patients in a Magnet-recognized inpatient unit focused on advanced oncology... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Staff Nurse-Progressive Care Unit. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute's (OSUCCC-Ja... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Equitas Health, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Equitas Health, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. ORGANIZATION INFORMATION. Established in 1984, Equitas Health is a regional not-for-profit community-based healthcare sys... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Viemed

    Columbus, OH

    Viemed | Columbus, OH

    Critical Care Float Registered Nurse Columbus, OH. Looking for a rewarding ICU nursing role with flexible scheduling, competitive pay, and comprehensive be... more

    5 Days Ago

  • DirectShifts

    Columbus, OH

    DirectShifts | Columbus, OH

    Join our dynamic healthcare team in the heart of Ohio as a Critical Care Nurse Practitioner. In this vital role, you will provide advanced nursing care to ... more

    6 Days Ago

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FAQ about Patient Care Nurse Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Patient Care Nurse Assistant?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Patient Care Nurse 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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