How Much Does a CNA Make in Dover, DE in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Dover, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Delaware.
BLS OES May 2025 · Dover metro area
A typical CNA in Dover, Delaware earns $19.04 per hour, or $39,600 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,300 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,270, and the top 10% of earners make over $45,510.
That pay is 6% below the Delaware figure of $42,030 and 6% below the national figure of $42,260. Dover ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in Delaware for CNA pay. About 890 CNAs work in the Dover area.
CNA pay in Dover at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.04 an hour, or $39,600 a year.
- That is 6% below the Delaware figure, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,270; the top 10% make over $45,510.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +50% for Delaware as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Dover?
Pay in Dover runs from entry-level positions at around $17.44 an hour to more than $21.88 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Delaware and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Dover
| Career stage | Dover | Delaware | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,270$17.44 an hour | $36,530$17.56 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,900$18.22 an hour | $38,490$18.51 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,600$19.04 an hour | $42,030$20.21 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $42,280$20.33 an hour | $45,210$21.74 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $45,510$21.88 an hour | $48,080$23.12 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Dover area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Dover
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Dover area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Dover was $27,960 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,600, a change of +42%, compared with +50% for Delaware over the same years.
How Dover compares with other Delaware cities
Wilmington pays CNAs the most in Delaware at $46,220 a year, $6,620 more than Dover. The lowest-paying area in the state is Dover at $39,600.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Dover | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $46,220 | $22.22 | +17% | 30,680 |
| 2 | Dover | $39,600 | $19.04 | this city | 890 |
Every metro area in Delaware with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Delaware typical pay $42,030
Is Dover a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Dover earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,600 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Dover area, about 13 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 Dover, DE?
- A typical CNA in Dover earns $39,600 a year, or $19.04 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,270 and the top 10% earn over $45,510.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Dover?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Dover is $19.04. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.44, and the top 10% earn over $21.88 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Dover?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Dover typically offer around $17.44 an hour, or $36,270 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Dover higher than in the rest of Delaware?
- Dover pay is 6% below the Delaware figure of $42,030 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Wilmington pays the most in Delaware at $46,220.