What is a Certified Nursing Assistant’s Salary?
OK, so you think you may have found your passion in life – becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
However, the million-dollar question is…
How much will I earn per year as a CNA?
We will share more information on CNA salaries with you, but there are some other things to consider first:
Is being a CNA a growing or a dying career?
How are the employment prospects for a CNA?
And where is the best place to live and get paid as a CNA?
Keep reading and, hopefully, we can answer some of these questions for you.
What kind of salary can I expect?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for nursing assistants was $27,520 in May 2017. By the term “median wage,” we mean that half the workers in the occupation earned more than this. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $40,610.
What are the highest paying states for CNAs?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 5 highest paying states/territories. Numbers are based on the mean.
- Alaska – $18.24 per hour / $37,950 per year
- New York – $16.87 per hour / $35,080 per year
- Nevada – $16.58 per hour / $34,480 per year
- District of Columbia – $16.43 per hour / $34,170 per year
- California – $16.13 per hour / $33,560 per year
What are the lowest paying states for CNAs?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 5 lowest paying states/territories. Numbers are based on the mean.
- Puerto Rico – $9.91 per hour / $20,610 per year
- Louisiana – $10.52 per hour / $21,880 per year
- Mississippi – $10.96 per hour / $22,790 per year
- Alabama – $11.08 per hour / $23,050 per year
- Arkansas – $11.53 per hour / $23,970 per year
What is the growth potential as a CNA?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical job growth in a sector is 7%. Nursing assistant job growth between 2016 and 2026 is expected to be 11%, adding 177,700 new jobs. That is faster than the market average!
The bottom line: Becoming a certified nursing assistant is not just a rewarding career; it is a growing and lucrative one, too.