CNA Salary

Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Nursing Assistants

The median cna salary in the United States is $42,260 per year ($20.32/hour). Salaries range from $33,940 at the entry level to $51,980+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 1,448,910 cna jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asCNACertified Nursing AssistantNursing AideOrderly
Median Salary
$42,260
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.32
per hour
Employment
1,448,910
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$33,940
25th percentile
$37,260
Median
$42,260
75th percentile
$47,220
90th percentile
$51,980

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+2.3%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

204,100
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Postsecondary nondegree award

CNA Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for cnas.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) provide direct patient care under RN/LPN supervision β€” vitals, bathing, feeding, transfers, ambulation, and reporting patient changes. Career splits: hospital (higher acuity, better pay + benefits, teaching hospital pay premium), long-term care / SNF (steady work, night shift premium), home health (autonomy + travel), assisted living (calmer pace). Path is short: 4-12 week training + state exam. Career progression is real β€” 60%+ of nurses started as CNAs. CNA is a proving ground for nursing school. Pay increased significantly post-Covid due to labor shortage. Union hospitals + Kaiser + academic medical centers pay best.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Vital signs + basic assessment
Accurate BP, temp, pulse, respiration, pulse ox. Recognizing changes + reporting to nurse.
Patient hygiene + skin care
Bed baths, oral care, incontinence care. Skin integrity assessment (pressure injuries).
Safe patient handling + transfers
Body mechanics, mechanical lifts (Hoyer, sit-to-stand). Fall prevention. #1 injury source for CNAs.
Feeding + hydration + nutrition documentation
Assist with meals. Aspiration precautions. I&O tracking.
Toileting + elimination
Bedpan, urinal, catheter care basics. Bowel + bladder patterns.
Communication + empathy
Patient + family communication. Compassion in end-of-life care. Cultural sensitivity.
Infection control
Hand hygiene, PPE, isolation precautions. Preventing HAIs.
Documentation
Vital signs, I&O, care provided. EMR entry (Meditech, Epic, Cerner).

How to Become a CNA

  1. 1
    High school diploma or GED (some programs accept 16+)
    Some states allow high school students to complete CNA training.
  2. 2
    Complete state-approved CNA training program (4-12 weeks)
    75-150 hours of training required by federal minimum; states set higher. Includes classroom + clinical rotation. Community colleges, Red Cross, or facility-sponsored (nursing home) programs available.
  3. 3
    Pass state CNA competency exam (written + skills)
    State registry-administered. Written knowledge test + hands-on skills demonstration (5-6 skills). $80-150 exam fee.
  4. 4
    State registry listing
    Passing = added to state's Nurse Aide Registry. Required to work as CNA in any facility in the state.
  5. 5
    First job (usually SNF, hospital, or assisted living)
    SNFs hire most new CNAs. Hospitals often require some experience. Home health increasingly common for new CNAs.
  6. 6
    Optional advanced certifications
    Medication Aide (CMA/MedTech), Restorative CNA, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Hospice CNA. Each unlocks pay premium.
  7. 7
    Career path: LPN / RN school
    Many CNAs pursue LPN (1-year program) or RN (2-4 year ADN/BSN). Facility tuition reimbursement common.

Career Progression

CNA New Grad
0-1 yrs$30-42k Β· Hourly $14-20 Β· Higher in CA/NY/WA/MA
  • β€’Direct patient care
  • β€’Vital signs + basic assessment
  • β€’Documentation
Next: Experienced CNA.
Experienced CNA (1-3 yrs)
1-3 yrs$34-48k Β· Hourly $16-23
  • β€’Independent care assignments
  • β€’Preceptor for new CNAs
  • β€’Higher-acuity units
Next: Senior CNA or specialty.
Senior CNA / Charge Aide / Specialty CNA
3-8 yrs$40-58k Β· Hourly $18-27 Β· Specialty premiums 5-15%
  • β€’Team lead for CNA staff
  • β€’Complex patient assignments
  • β€’Training + new hire onboarding
Next: LPN school or CNA management.
Medication Aide / Restorative CNA / Certified Dementia Practitioner
4-10 yrs$42-62k Β· Hourly $19-28 Β· Specialty pay premium
  • β€’Medication administration in some states
  • β€’Restorative therapy assist
  • β€’Specialty patient population
Next: LPN or nursing school.
Nurse Manager Assistant / Director of CNAs
8+ yrs$50-72k Β· Salaried supervisor role
  • β€’Scheduling + staff management
  • β€’Training + orientation
  • β€’Quality + regulatory compliance
Next: LPN, RN, or facility administration.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 12 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Why do you want to be a CNA?culture
Genuine service motivation. 'I want to help people during hard moments' or 'nursing career path.' Concrete + short. Not: 'I need a job.' Screens for genuine care motivation.
Q2. Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult resident or family member.behavioral
STAR. Real situation (or from clinicals). Empathy + patience. Involving nurse when needed. Boundary. Never bad-mouth the resident/family. Screens for people skills.
Q3. What would you do if you noticed a resident had a change in condition?situational
Concrete: 'Report to charge nurse immediately with specific observations (vitals, symptoms, timeline). Document. Continue monitoring per nurse direction. Never delay reporting.' Screens for basic clinical judgment.
Q4. How do you handle multiple residents needing help at the same time?situational
Concrete triage: safety first (fall risk, ADL emergency). Communicate with residents about wait time. Ask other CNA or nurse for help. Never ignore call lights. Screens for prioritization.
Q5. How do you protect resident dignity during care?situational
Concrete: knock before entering, close doors + curtains, cover with sheet during care, explain what you're doing before you do it, offer choice when possible. Screens for basic dignity + person-centered care.

Resume Template β€” CNA (1-2 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

CNA (1-2 yrs)
  • β–ΈCNA, [Facility]. Provide direct care for 8-10 residents per shift including ADLs, vitals, and documentation.
  • β–ΈState CNA certification + BLS + Alzheimer's/Dementia Care certification (2024).
  • β–ΈZero medication or transfer errors + perfect attendance in past 12 months.
  • β–ΈPreceptor for 3 new-hire CNAs in past year; all completed orientation successfully.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—History of resident abuse allegations (registry check flags β€” auto disqualifier).
  • βœ—Poor documentation habits.
  • βœ—Missing shifts / unreliable attendance.
  • βœ—Weak communication with nurses or peers.
  • βœ—Doesn't report changes in condition promptly.
  • βœ—Rough handling during transfers or care.
  • βœ—Cellphone use during care hours (chronic issue).
  • βœ—Bad-mouthing residents or families or peers.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Shift differential: night shift +$1-3/hr, weekend +$1-3/hr, holiday premium 1.5-2x.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonus $500-5,000 depending on facility + market.
  • βœ“Referral bonus $500-2,000 for bringing in another CNA.
  • βœ“Tuition reimbursement for LPN or RN school ($3,000-15,000/year at hospital systems).
  • βœ“Advanced certifications = pay premium (CMA, Restorative, Dementia).
  • βœ“Union facility premium (typically 15-30% higher pay + benefits).
  • βœ“Kaiser, VA, and academic medical centers pay best in most markets.
  • βœ“Home health per-visit + mileage.
  • βœ“Overtime opportunities.

CNA Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired cnas. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

CNA Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 12 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 8 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Sample reviews β€” real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.

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β€œThe 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.”

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CNA Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$31K
$50Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Oregon
$50K
+18%
Washington
$49K
+16%
New York
$49K
+15%
New Hampshire
$48K
+13%
District of Columbia
$48K
+13%
California
$48K
+13%
Colorado
$47K
+12%
Vermont
$47K
+12%
Maine
$47K
+11%
New Jersey
$47K
+11%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Oregon$49,830+17.9%
Washington$49,180+16.4%
New York$48,590+15.0%
New Hampshire$47,870+13.3%
District of Columbia$47,700+12.9%
California$47,630+12.7%
Colorado$47,380+12.1%
Vermont$47,130+11.5%
Maine$47,070+11.4%
New Jersey$46,830+10.8%
1–10 of 51

CNA Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$56,840+34.5%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$56,080+32.7%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$51,990+23.0%
Napa, CA$50,370+19.2%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$50,350+19.1%
Bend, OR$50,080+18.5%
Boulder, CO$49,860+18.0%
Grants Pass, OR$49,770+17.8%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$49,270+16.6%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$49,240+16.5%
1–10 of 387
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A cna earning $42,260/year would need 1410 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1514 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how cna salaries have changed over the past decade.
View CNA salary trend (2011–2024) β†’