CNA salary calculator
Annualize your certified nursing assistant or nursing assistant base pay against May 2025 BLS nursing assistant wages, then compare top state medians and the SNF and hospital settings where most CNAs work.
BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 31-1131 · About 1,441,500 employed · Inputs stay in your browser
Ready when you are
Your benchmark will appear here
Enter your CNA base pay to see an annual estimate, national percentile, and the latest nursing assistant wage range. Inputs stay in your browser.
Know the national CNA range. Then shop roles that fit.
After you place your base pay against national nursing assistant wages, browse openings that match your certification, setting, and schedule.
CNA pay context
Nursing assistant wages, framed for CNA searches
This calculator uses the BLS Nursing Assistants occupation (SOC 31-1131). That is the national OEWS series people mean when they search CNA salary. It is not an LPN/LVN or RN staff-nurse table.
- About 1,441,500 nursing assistants were employed in 2024, with roughly 204,100 openings projected each year through 2034 (2% growth).
- Oregon's median ($49,830) leads this tool's top-state set versus the national median of $42,260.
- BLS notes nursing assistants have one of the highest injury and illness rates among occupations because of patient handling and other physical demands. Ask employers about lift equipment, staffing ratios, and differentials separately from base pay.
- LPNs and LVNs should use the LPN / LVN salary calculator. RNs should use the RN salary calculator.
The national picture
CNA / nursing assistant salary range
BLS wage percentiles for nursing assistants across industries in the United States. Benchmarks only, not recommended rates or guarantees.
| Percentile | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16.32 | $33,940 |
| 25th | $17.91 | $37,260 |
| 50th | $20.32 | $42,260 |
| 75th | $22.70 | $47,220 |
| 90th | $24.99 | $51,980 |
Pay by geography
Highest-paying CNA states
Top published state median wages compared with the national median of $42,260. West Coast and several Northeast/Midwest states lead this set.
| State | Median annual | 10th | 90th | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 | $43,210 | $61,310 | +17.9% vs national |
| Washington | $49,180 | $42,500 | $62,660 | +16.4% vs national |
| New York | $48,590 | $38,450 | $59,890 | +15% vs national |
| California | $47,630 | $40,110 | $61,100 | +12.7% vs national |
| Colorado | $47,380 | $38,690 | $56,070 | +12.1% vs national |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | $38,900 | $55,140 | +10.8% vs national |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | $39,380 | $57,880 | +10.5% vs national |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | $38,010 | $55,410 | +10.5% vs national |
| Illinois | $45,960 | $37,590 | $54,050 | +8.8% vs national |
| Nevada | $45,490 | $36,940 | $50,680 | +7.6% vs national |
Large-market contrast
High CNA demand does not always mean high median pay
Texas, Florida, and Georgia are major CNA employment markets, but their May 2025 medians sit below the national figure. Louisiana is among the lowest published medians in this sample.
| State | Median annual | 10th | 90th | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 | $37,760 | $49,360 | +5.5% vs national |
| Michigan | $39,570 | $36,830 | $46,740 | -6.4% vs national |
| Ohio | $39,010 | $35,060 | $46,570 | -7.7% vs national |
| North Carolina | $38,460 | $30,260 | $47,080 | -9% vs national |
| Florida | $37,510 | $34,350 | $46,790 | -11.2% vs national |
| Texas | $37,500 | $30,620 | $47,500 | -11.3% vs national |
| Georgia | $37,680 | $30,300 | $47,310 | -10.8% vs national |
| Louisiana | $30,510 | $27,980 | $37,390 | -27.8% vs national |
Where CNAs work
Employer mix for nursing assistant jobs
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook shares for 2024 employment. Skilled nursing and hospitals together account for most CNA jobs, so night/weekend schedules are common.
| Setting | Share of employment |
|---|---|
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 35% |
| Hospitals (state, local, and private) | 33% |
| Continuing care / assisted living for the elderly | 11% |
| Home healthcare services | 5% |
| Government (excl. state/local education and hospitals) | 3% |
Pay by setting
CNA median wages by industry
May 2024 industry medians from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. These are older than the May 2025 national calculator median ($42,260) and are shown for setting comparison, not as a replacement for the calculator.
| Industry | Median annual (May 2024) |
|---|---|
| Government (excl. state/local education and hospitals) | $45,760 |
| Hospitals (state, local, and private) | $40,170 |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | $39,170 |
| Continuing care / assisted living for the elderly | $38,500 |
| Home healthcare services | $36,910 |
Schedule reality
Nights, weekends, and holidays are part of the job for many CNAs
Because nursing care facilities and hospitals provide care around the clock, BLS notes that nursing assistants may work nights, weekends, and holidays. Base pay in this calculator does not include shift differentials. Model stacked differentials separately with the shift differential calculator.
How the math works
Transparent by design
- 1
Annualize your CNA base pay
Hourly pay is multiplied by hours per week and weeks per year. Weekly uses weeks per year; monthly uses 12 months.
- 2
Place it on the nursing assistant BLS vector
We compare annualized pay with published nursing assistant percentiles for SOC 31-1131.
- 3
Label the approximation
Gaps between published points use linear interpolation. Outside the 10th-90th range, results are labeled only as below or above the published threshold. State and industry tables are separate context, not calculator inputs.
Primary sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Nursing Assistants (31-1131), May 2025. Published May 15, 2026; verified August 11, 2026. Employer shares and industry medians: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 industry wages; 2024 employment).
Common questions
CNA salary FAQ
How much do CNAs make?
The national median annual wage for nursing assistants was $42,260 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half earned less and half earned more. Oregon's median was $49,830 in this tool's top-state set, while several southern markets publish lower medians. Shift differentials and setting (SNF vs hospital) can change take-home pay.
Is CNA the same as nursing assistant in this data?
BLS publishes the occupation as Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). That series is the standard national wage table used for CNA pay comparisons on this page. State titles and certification names vary, but the OEWS series is shared.
Which states pay CNAs the most?
Among published May 2025 state medians in this tool's top-ten set, the highest are Oregon ($49,830), Washington ($49,180), New York ($48,590), California ($47,630), and Colorado ($47,380). Large markets like Texas and Florida sit below the national median.
Where do most CNAs work?
According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, about 35% of nursing assistants worked in nursing care facilities (SNFs), 33% in hospitals, 11% in continuing care or assisted living, 5% in home healthcare, and 3% in government settings (2024 employment). Industry median wages in the OOH table are May 2024 figures.
How is my CNA salary percentile estimated?
The calculator annualizes the base pay and schedule you enter, then linearly interpolates between the BLS 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile wage thresholds for SOC 31-1131. Values outside that published range are labeled only as below the 10th or above the 90th threshold. State and industry tables below are separate benchmarks, not calculator inputs.
Should LPNs or RNs use this page?
LPNs and LVNs should use the LPN/LVN salary calculator (SOC 29-2061). RNs should use the RN salary calculator (SOC 29-1141). This page is for nursing assistant / CNA occupation wages.
Does the comparison include overtime, bonuses, or benefits?
No. Enter base pay only. The comparison excludes overtime, shift differentials, stipends, insurance, retirement contributions, and other benefits. Nights, weekends, and holidays are common in SNF and hospital schedules.
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