How Much Does a CNA Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical CNA in Washington, District of Columbia earns $21.99 per hour, or $45,730 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,811 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,060, and the top 10% of earners make over $55,390.
That pay is 4% below the District of Columbia figure of $47,700 and 8% above the national figure of $42,260. About 25,520 CNAs work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
CNA pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.99 an hour, or $45,730 a year.
- That is 4% below the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,060; the top 10% make over $55,390.
- Typical pay rose +61% from 2015 to 2025, against +49% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $17.34 an hour to more than $26.63 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,060$17.34 an hour | $38,900$18.70 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,020$18.76 an hour | $42,400$20.38 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,730$21.99 an hour | $47,700$22.93 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,980$23.55 an hour | $51,850$24.93 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $55,390$26.63 an hour | $57,500$27.64 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Washington was $28,380 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,730, a change of +61%, compared with +49% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Washington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $45,730 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 8.1 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 Washington, DC?
- A typical CNA in Washington earns $45,730 a year, or $21.99 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,060 and the top 10% earn over $55,390.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Washington is $21.99. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.34, and the top 10% earn over $26.63 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Washington?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Washington typically offer around $17.34 an hour, or $36,060 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is 4% below the District of Columbia figure of $47,700 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.