CNA Average Salary & Hourly Rate in 2025
CNAs, or certified nursing assistants, play an important role in hospitals as they ensure that every patient receives adequate care. As of August 14, 2025, the average salary for a CNA in the United States is $34,800 per year.
The salary of a CNA may vary depending on key factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, skills, and demand.
In the following sections, this guide will provide an overview of artist salaries and a detailed outline of their job responsibilities, job outlook, and career trends for the coming years.
An Overview of CNA Salaries
The average salary for a CNA in 2025 is $34,800 per year. The salary of CNAs usually ranges between $28,591 to $38,869, with the majority earning $31,550 to $36,930 per year.
| Percentile | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10% Percentile | $28,591 |
| 25% Percentile | $31,550 |
| 50% Percentile (Median) | $34,800 |
| 75% Percentile | $36,930 |
| 90% Percentile | $38,869 |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also reports that salaries for CNAs may vary depending on their industry. For instance, CNAs working for the government can earn up to $45,760, while those working at home healthcare services can only typically earn $36,910.
- Government: $45,760
- Hospitals; state, local, and private: $40,170
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities): $39,170
- Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly: $38,500
- Home healthcare services: $36,910
CNA Salary: Hourly, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Breakdown
The average CNA salary can be broken down into hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly amounts. According to Salary.com, the average salary for CNAs in the United States is $17 per hour or $2,900 per month.
- Average salary per hour: $17
- Average salary per week: $669
- Average salary per month: $2,900
- Average salary per year: $34,800
As previously noted, CNAs in the United States will find that their salary may vary due to key factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and education. These factors will be explored in detail below.
How Experience Impacts CNA Salaries
Aside from their educational background, certifications, and accreditations, their level of experience also plays a vital role in increasing the salary for CNAs. As shown in the list below, there are notable salary differences across various experience levels of CNAs in the United States.
Based on the Salary.com data, the difference between an entry-level CNAs’ salary and an expert-level CNA’s salary is almost $2,180. This also shows a sizeable gap between the salaries of an intermediate-level CNA and a senior-level CNA’s pay is at $33,830 and $34,959, respectively.
- Entry Level CNA: $33,733
- Intermediate Level CNA: $33,830
- Senior Level CNA: $34,959
- Specialist Level CNA: $35,849
- Expert Level CNA: $35,913
State-by-State Breakdown of Average Salaries for CNA
It can also be noted that each US state has different average salaries for CNAs due to several factors such as cost of living, industry performance, and demand.
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual salary for CNAs in the United States at $38,530. The next ones are California and Massachusetts with $38,380 and $37,870 per year, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,970 |
| Alaska | $37,670 |
| Arizona | $33,910 |
| Arkansas | $31,440 |
| California | $38,380 |
| Colorado | $35,510 |
| Connecticut | $37,190 |
| Delaware | $35,240 |
| District of Columbia | $38,530 |
| Florida | $32,930 |
| Georgia | $33,570 |
| Hawaii | $36,370 |
| Idaho | $32,490 |
| Illinois | $35,470 |
| Indiana | $33,410 |
| Iowa | $33,300 |
| Kansas | $33,140 |
| Kentucky | $32,750 |
| Louisiana | $33,090 |
| Maine | $33,930 |
| Maryland | $35,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Michigan | $34,270 |
| Minnesota | $35,610 |
| Mississippi | $31,040 |
| Missouri | $33,060 |
| Montana | $32,860 |
| Nebraska | $32,790 |
| Nevada | $34,440 |
| New Hampshire | $35,180 |
| New Jersey | $37,720 |
| New Mexico | $32,230 |
| New York | $37,000 |
| North Carolina | $33,070 |
| North Dakota | $34,380 |
| Ohio | $33,890 |
| Oklahoma | $32,180 |
| Oregon | $35,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,640 |
| Rhode Island | $36,080 |
| South Carolina | $32,610 |
| South Dakota | $31,630 |
| Tennessee | $32,520 |
| Texas | $33,950 |
| Utah | $33,330 |
| Vermont | $34,160 |
| Virginia | $35,040 |
| Washington | $37,730 |
| West Virginia | $31,340 |
| Wisconsin | $34,230 |
| Wyoming | $33,370 |
CNA Salaries: Top Earning Cities Revealed
Salary.com labor statistics reveals that the top three highest paying cities that provides higher CNA salary in the United States are San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, all in the state of California.
| Top Paying Cities | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $43,890 |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,460 |
| Oakland, CA | $42,500 |
| New York, NY | $40,330 |
| Queens Village, NY | $40,070 |
| Paramus, NJ | $39,790 |
Explore CNA Benefits and Perks Beyond Salary
In addition to their pay, CNAs receive a range of benefits and rewards. According to data from Salary.com, the total compensation for CNAs includes benefits such as Social Security and 401(k)/403(b) plans. perform tasks
- Social Security
- 401K/403B plans
- Disability insurance
- Healthcare
- Pension plan
- Time Off (PTO)
CNA Job Description: Roles and Responsibilities
CNAs are mainly responsible for helping nurses take care of their patients and serve as the the nurses’ medical assistants. Additionally, CNAs also perform tasks like basic and daily care for patients who may have difficulties doing daily tasks.
- The job description for a CNA is as follows:
- Assist patients with difficulties in movement with their daily tasks
- Dispense medication provided by nurses
- Help nurses with their daily tasks
- Measure patients’ vital signs and serve meals for the patients and help provide personal care
- Record patients’ health complaints and report it back to the nurses
When and How to Ask for a Raise as a CNA?
The job of a CNA usually requires an individual to complete a state-approved educational program and pass said state’s competency exam first. It’s important to keep in mind that some private companies do not require them to pass the competency exam but only the aforementioned state-approved educational program.
That said, you can still boost your credibility through upskilling and learning some valuable skills for a higher CNA salary. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow to ask for a higher CNA salary:
- Finish the needed program: As mentioned above, most nursing aides need to pass a state-approved program to have the role. This allows them to learn both basic care along with supervised clinical work as well.
- Pass the competency exam: Passing the competency exam places prospective CNAs in a state registry, which then allows prospective companies to look for candidates with the correct skillset.
- Ask for a formal meeting: Prepare a meeting with your managers and employers beforehand to set a more formal and serious tone for the conversation.
- Make a clear and confident presentation: Discuss what you bring in the healthcare setting and make sure to highlight milestones you’ve achieved during your tenure as a certified nursing assistant. Be clear about your intentions and maintain a positive mindset.
Why Does a CNA Make So Much?
The average CNA pay is good since it’s a role that’s focused primarily on patient care. The job isn’t necessarily an easy one as well, with most nursing assistants having to deal with the elderly which ensures a higher baseline salary.
This means that being a CNA requires great analytical skills on top of stellar communication skills to help companies spring into action faster. The U.S. BLS has outlined these specific skills that a CNA should ideally have:
- Basic compassion
- Communication skills
- Patience
- Stamina
However, Salary.com’s Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Solution has also pointed out that CNAs with certain skills can earn more money. Candidates with triage and hospice care skills can earn 9.70% and 7.83% can negotiate a higher nursing assistant salary.
Other high compensation skills include the following:
- Triage: +9.70%
- Hospice Care: +7.83%
- Patient Safety: +7.69%
- Medication Administration and Prescription: +7.51%
- Therapeutic Care: +7.07%
- Patient Chart Reading and Interpretation: +7.06%
The Future of CNA: Job Outlook and Career Trends
Based on reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job title outlook for CNAs sees an 4% job growth for the years 2023 to 2033. This is mainly due to the fact that most Americans acknowledge that the population is slowly growing older. This is also due to other healthcare workers leaving the workplace and looking for other jobs with higher salaries.
