How Much Does a CNA Make in the United States in 2026?

Demand for certified nursing assistants remains high across the United States, with hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies all competing for the same pool of trained workers. A typical CNA earns about $20.32 per hour, or $42,260 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025).

That is a national figure, and actual paychecks vary meaningfully. Where you work, what kind of facility employs you, how long you have been in the field, and which credentials you hold all move the number up or down.

A typical CNA earns $20.32 per hour as of May 2025. Over a full year of full-time work, that comes to $42,260, which works out to roughly $3,522 per month when calculated from the annual figure. These earnings support one of the largest workforces in American healthcare: about 1.45 million CNAs are employed nationwide, providing daily hands-on care in nearly every hospital, nursing home, and assisted living community in the country.

Experience is one of the steadiest drivers of CNA pay. Entry-level positions typically offer around $16.32 per hour, which works out to $33,940 per year. Within the first few years, most CNAs pass the $17.91 mark and move toward the typical rate of $20.32 per hour as they build skills and seniority.

Experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $22.70 per hour, or $47,220 per year, particularly in facilities that reward tenure with regular raises. The top 10% of earners make over $24.99 per hour, which comes to $51,980 per year. Those positions tend to combine long experience with the higher-paying states and settings covered below.

CNA pay has climbed substantially over the past decade. In 2015, the typical CNA earned $25,710 per year. By 2025 that figure had reached $42,260, a rise of 64.4 percent. The gains came faster in recent years: pay grew $3,950 between 2015 and 2019, then $11,950 between 2021 and 2025, including a $2,730 increase in the last year alone.

The reason is demand. The population needing direct care grew, and facilities raised wages to attract and keep workers after years of staffing shortages. These are national figures; local pay moved at different speeds, and some states saw considerably sharper increases than others.

Where you live is often the single biggest factor in CNA pay. Oregon leads the country with a typical salary of $49,830, followed closely by Washington at $49,180, New York at $48,590, New Hampshire at $47,870, and the District of Columbia at $47,700. At the lower end, typical pay in Louisiana is $30,510 and in Mississippi $31,520.

Higher pay in the top states often reflects higher living costs, so a bigger paycheck does not always stretch further. Rent in Portland or New York City absorbs a share of that extra income. The table below lists every state with its local figures.

The type of facility also moves pay. Most CNAs work in nursing homes and hospitals: skilled nursing facilities employ about 534,270 CNAs, and general medical and surgical hospitals another 442,820. Among these large employers, nursing care facilities pay the most, with a typical salary of $43,000.

Hospitals come in slightly lower, at $41,650 for general medical and surgical hospitals and $42,100 for privately owned hospitals overall. Assisted living communities and retirement facilities typically pay $39,490. The differences are real but modest, and the table below shows the figures for each setting.

Beyond location, experience, and setting, the hours you work matter. Evening, night, and weekend shifts often carry extra hourly pay, because facilities run around the clock and the less popular hours are harder to staff. The exact amount varies by employer, and it can add up meaningfully over a year of night work.

Certifications open another path to higher pay. A medication aide certification is a common paid add-on that allows a CNA to administer certain medications under supervision. Some states use their own credential names: Ohio certifies STNAs (State Tested Nursing Assistants), and Maryland issues the GNA (Geriatric Nursing Assistant) credential for nursing-home work.

Specializing in areas like memory care or rehabilitation can also support higher pay, since facilities value CNAs with focused skills.

Many CNAs go on to become licensed practical nurses or registered nurses, and pay rises substantially at each step. A CNA earning $42,260 who completes a practical nursing program, which commonly runs about 12 months, can move into an LPN/LVN role with typical pay of $64,400, a gain of $22,140 per year.

The next step is larger still. Registered nurses typically earn $97,550; an associate degree in nursing commonly takes about 2 years, and a BSN about 4. Beyond that, nurse practitioners typically earn $132,300, a role that requires a graduate degree. Program lengths vary by school, and many CNAs study part time while working. The hands-on experience gained as a CNA counts for a great deal in nursing school and in every role that follows.

A typical CNA today earns $42,260 per year, up 64.4 percent from a decade ago, with pay running higher in states like Oregon and Washington and in skilled nursing facilities. Two practical next steps: check your state's training requirements, which range from 75 to 175 hours depending on where you live, and look up your state's salary page for local figures.