How Much Does a CNA Make in Arizona in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Arizona, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Arizona · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Arizona earns about $21.53 per hour, or $44,780 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is about 6% above the national figure of $42,260 per year, and Arizona ranks 21st out of 51 states tracked for CNA pay.
Roughly 20,320 CNAs work across the state, making it one of the larger CNA workforces in the Southwest.
How much does a CNA make in Arizona?
CNA pay by career stage in Arizona
| Career stage | Arizona | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,100$17.84 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,320$18.43 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $44,780$21.53 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,630$22.42 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,820$27.80 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Arizona
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Arizona · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Arizona CNA pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $28,420 in 2015 to $44,780 in 2025, a rise of 58%. That is a bit slower than the 64% increase seen nationally over the same span, but the gain still outpaces general inflation.
For someone starting as a CNA in Arizona now, pay has been moving up for a decade, though that trend is not a promise of future raises.
CNA salary by city in Arizona
Pay runs highest in the Phoenix metro area, where CNAs in Chandler, Phoenix, and Mesa earn $45,290 per year ($21.77 per hour), covering each city's full metro area. Prescott and Prescott Valley follow closely at $45,180, with Flagstaff not far behind at $44,580.
At the other end, Yuma pays the least among Arizona's tracked cities at $37,860 per year, a gap of $7,430 from the top of the range. Cities with lower pay tend to have a lower cost of living, so the difference is not as wide in practical terms as it looks on paper.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Arizona | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | $45,290 | $21.77 | +1% | 13,550 |
| 2 | Prescott metro incl. Prescott Valley | $45,180 | $21.72 | +1% | 690 |
| 3 | Flagstaff | $44,580 | $21.44 | 0% | 500 |
| 4 | Lake Havasu City metro incl. Kingman | $43,140 | $20.74 | -4% | 490 |
| 5 | Tucson | $42,560 | $20.46 | -5% | 3,500 |
| 6 | Sierra Vista metro incl. Douglas | $39,260 | $18.88 | -12% | 220 |
| 7 | Yuma | $37,860 | $18.20 | -15% | 500 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Arizona typical pay $44,780
How Arizona compares with nearby states
Arizona's CNA pay sits in the middle of its neighboring states. California and Colorado both pay more, at $47,630 and $47,380 per year, while Utah and New Mexico pay less, around $39,840 and $39,390. Nevada is close to Arizona, just 2% higher. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so nearby pay is worth knowing.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $44,780 | baseline |
| California | $47,630 | +6% |
| Nevada | $45,490 | +2% |
| Utah | $39,840 | -11% |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | -12% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Arizona a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Arizona earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $44,780 a year, 6% above the national figure, ranking 21st of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Arizona, about 6.3 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. That makes CNAs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates. Taken together, Arizona is one of the better-paying states for CNAs.
Summary
CNAs in Arizona typically earn $21.53 per hour, or $44,780 per year, a figure that has risen 58% over the past decade. For details on becoming certified, the Arizona state registry page covers the requirements. For pay specific to a city, the local city pages break down figures for places like Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Arizona?
- A typical CNA in Arizona earns **$21.53 per hour**, or about **$44,780 per year**, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is about 6% above the national figure, and pay varies somewhat by city and experience level within the state.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Arizona?
- CNAs in Arizona earn **$21.53 per hour** typically, according to May 2025 wage data. Entry-level pay starts closer to $17.84 to $18.43 per hour, while experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $27.80 per hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Arizona?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Arizona typically offer around **$17.84 to $18.43 per hour**, or about $37,100 to $38,320 per year, according to the latest wage data. Pay generally rises with experience and certification level.
- Which city in Arizona pays CNAs the most?
- Chandler, along with Phoenix and Mesa, pays the most for CNAs in Arizona, at **$45,290 per year** ($21.77 per hour), covering the full metro area. Prescott and Prescott Valley are close behind at $45,180. Yuma has the lowest city pay in the state, at $37,860 per year.
- Is CNA pay in Arizona higher than the national rate?
- Yes. CNAs in Arizona typically earn **$44,780 per year**, about 6% above the national figure of $42,260, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Arizona ranks 21st out of 51 states tracked for CNA pay.