How Much Does a CNA Make in Tucson, AZ in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Tucson, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Arizona.
BLS OES May 2025 · Tucson metro area
A typical CNA in Tucson, Arizona earns $20.46 per hour, or $42,560 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,547 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,270, and the top 10% of earners make over $56,560.
That pay is 5% below the Arizona figure of $44,780 and 1% above the national figure of $42,260. Tucson ranks 5th of 7 metro areas in Arizona for CNA pay. About 3,500 CNAs work in the Tucson area.
CNA pay in Tucson at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.46 an hour, or $42,560 a year.
- That is 5% below the Arizona figure, ranking 5th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,270; the top 10% make over $56,560.
- Typical pay rose +56% from 2015 to 2025, against +58% for Arizona as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Tucson?
Pay in Tucson runs from entry-level positions at around $16.96 an hour to more than $27.19 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Arizona and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Tucson
| Career stage | Tucson | Arizona | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,270$16.96 an hour | $37,100$17.84 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,960$18.25 an hour | $38,320$18.43 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $42,560$20.46 an hour | $44,780$21.53 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,980$22.11 an hour | $46,630$22.42 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $56,560$27.19 an hour | $57,820$27.80 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Tucson area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Tucson
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Tucson area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Tucson was $27,350 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,560, a change of +56%, compared with +58% for Arizona over the same years.
How Tucson compares with other Arizona cities
Chandler pays CNAs the most in Arizona at $45,290 a year, $2,730 more than Tucson. The lowest-paying area in the state is Yuma at $37,860.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Tucson | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandler | $45,290 | $21.77 | +6% | 13,550 |
| 2 | Prescott metro incl. Prescott Valley | $45,180 | $21.72 | +6% | 690 |
| 3 | Flagstaff | $44,580 | $21.44 | +5% | 500 |
| 4 | Kingman metro incl. Lake Havasu City | $43,140 | $20.74 | +1% | 490 |
| 5 | Tucson | $42,560 | $20.46 | this city | 3,500 |
| 6 | Sierra Vista metro incl. Douglas | $39,260 | $18.88 | -8% | 220 |
| 7 | Yuma | $37,860 | $18.20 | -11% | 500 |
Every metro area in Arizona with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Arizona typical pay $44,780
Is Tucson a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Tucson sits close to the national figure: $42,560 a year, 1% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Tucson area, about 9.0 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Tucson, AZ?
- A typical CNA in Tucson earns $42,560 a year, or $20.46 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,270 and the top 10% earn over $56,560.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Tucson?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Tucson is $20.46. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.96, and the top 10% earn over $27.19 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Tucson?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Tucson typically offer around $16.96 an hour, or $35,270 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Tucson higher than in the rest of Arizona?
- Tucson pay is 5% below the Arizona figure of $44,780 a year, ranking 5th of 7 metro areas in the state. Chandler pays the most in Arizona at $45,290.