How Much Does a CNA Make in California in 2026?

A typical CNA in California earns about $22.90 per hour ($47,630 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That's about 13% higher than the national figure of $42,260 a year, and California ranks 6th out of 51 states and jurisdictions tracked for CNA pay. About 110,060 CNAs work across the state, out of roughly 1.45 million nationwide.

In 2015, typical CNA pay in California was $29,150 a year. By 2025, that had climbed to $47,630, a 63% rise over the decade. The national increase over the same ten years was close behind, at 64%, so California's growth roughly tracked the country as a whole. For someone starting out now, that record shows pay has moved up in most years since 2015, though nothing about future years is guaranteed.

Pay runs highest in the Santa Clara, San Jose, and Sunnyvale metro area, where CNAs typically earn $56,840 a year. San Francisco, Fremont, and Oakland follow closely at $56,080. At the other end of the state, the El Centro metro area typically pays $44,670, a gap of $12,170 between California's highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. These figures cover each city's full metro area, and higher pay in places like Santa Clara tends to track a higher cost of living.

Among California's neighbors, Oregon pays CNAs the most, with typical pay running 5% higher than California's. Nevada and Arizona both pay less, at 4% and 6% below California's figure. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so it helps to know how pay compares just across the border.

CNAs in California typically earn $22.90 an hour, or $47,630 a year, up 63% over the past decade. For details on what's required to work as a CNA in the state, the California registry page covers certification requirements. For local figures, the city pages break down pay in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Sacramento, and other California metro areas.