How Much Does a CNA Make in Waterbury, CT in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Waterbury, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Connecticut.
BLS OES May 2025 · Waterbury · Shelton metro area
A typical CNA in Waterbury, Connecticut earns $20.68 per hour, or $43,010 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,584 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,840, and the top 10% of earners make over $50,810.
That pay is 4% below the Connecticut figure of $44,790 and 2% above the national figure of $42,260. Waterbury ranks 5th of 5 metro areas in Connecticut for CNA pay. About 2,190 CNAs work in the Waterbury · Shelton area. Waterbury is part of the Waterbury · Shelton metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Shelton share these figures.
CNA pay in Waterbury at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.68 an hour, or $43,010 a year.
- That is 4% below the Connecticut figure, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,840; the top 10% make over $50,810.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for Connecticut as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Waterbury?
Pay in Waterbury runs from entry-level positions at around $18.67 an hour to more than $24.43 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Connecticut and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Waterbury
| Career stage | Waterbury | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,840$18.67 an hour | $38,660$18.59 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $42,300$20.34 an hour | $41,900$20.14 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $43,010$20.68 an hour | $44,790$21.53 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,850$22.04 an hour | $47,180$22.68 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,810$24.43 an hour | $53,870$25.90 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterbury · Shelton area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Waterbury
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Waterbury · Shelton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Waterbury was $30,260 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,010, a change of +42%, compared with +46% for Connecticut over the same years.
How Waterbury compares with other Connecticut cities
Bridgeport pays CNAs the most in Connecticut at $45,560 a year, $2,550 more than Waterbury. The lowest-paying area in the state is Shelton at $43,010.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waterbury | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport | $45,560 | $21.90 | +6% | 4,500 |
| 2 | New Haven | $45,030 | $21.65 | +5% | 3,840 |
| 3 | West Hartford metro incl. East Hartford · Hartford | $44,340 | $21.32 | +3% | 7,990 |
| 4 | Norwich metro incl. New London · Willimantic | $44,210 | $21.26 | +3% | 1,610 |
| 5 | Waterbury metro incl. Shelton | $43,010 | $20.68 | this city | 2,190 |
Every metro area in Connecticut with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Connecticut typical pay $44,790
Is Waterbury a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Waterbury sits close to the national figure: $43,010 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterbury · Shelton area, about 14 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Waterbury, CT?
- A typical CNA in Waterbury earns $43,010 a year, or $20.68 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,840 and the top 10% earn over $50,810.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Waterbury?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Waterbury is $20.68. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.67, and the top 10% earn over $24.43 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Waterbury?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Waterbury typically offer around $18.67 an hour, or $38,840 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Waterbury higher than in the rest of Connecticut?
- Waterbury pay is 4% below the Connecticut figure of $44,790 a year, ranking 5th of 5 metro areas in the state. Bridgeport pays the most in Connecticut at $45,560.