How Much Does a CNA Make in Louisiana in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Louisiana, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Louisiana earns about $14.67 per hour ($30,510 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is about 28% below the national figure of $20.32 an hour, and it places Louisiana last among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Around 20,690 CNAs work across the state, providing hands-on care in hospitals, nursing homes, and home settings.
How much does a CNA make in Louisiana?
CNA pay by career stage in Louisiana
| Career stage | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $27,980$13.45 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $29,070$13.97 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $30,510$14.67 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $35,100$16.87 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $37,390$17.98 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Louisiana
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Louisiana · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Louisiana CNA pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $20,140 in 2015 to $30,510 in 2025, a rise of 51%. That trails the national increase of 64% over the same stretch, meaning pay has grown a bit slower here than in the country as a whole. For someone starting out now, the trend line points up: pay has moved higher nearly every year, though nothing guarantees that continues.
CNA salary by city in Louisiana
Pay runs highest in the New Orleans area, where CNAs in Metairie and New Orleans typically earn $34,320 a year ($16.50 an hour). Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell follow closely at $34,050. Monroe sits at the low end, at $29,880, putting the gap between the state's highest- and lowest-paying metro areas at $4,440 a year. As with most places, higher pay in and around New Orleans tends to track a higher cost of living.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Louisiana | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans metro incl. Metairie | $34,320 | $16.50 | +12% | 3,660 |
| 2 | Slidell metro incl. Mandeville · Covington | $34,050 | $16.37 | +12% | 1,030 |
| 3 | Lake Charles | $33,850 | $16.27 | +11% | 730 |
| 4 | Hammond | $33,010 | $15.87 | +8% | 600 |
| 5 | Shreveport metro incl. Bossier City | $32,160 | $15.46 | +5% | 2,330 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | $31,220 | $15.01 | +2% | 3,500 |
| 7 | Alexandria | $30,650 | $14.74 | 0% | 910 |
| 8 | Houma metro incl. Bayou Cane · Thibodaux | $30,140 | $14.49 | -1% | 630 |
| 9 | Lafayette | $29,960 | $14.40 | -2% | 1,990 |
| 10 | Monroe | $29,880 | $14.36 | -2% | 1,340 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $30,510
How Louisiana compares with nearby states
CNAs in every neighboring state earn more than in Louisiana. Texas pays the most among them, at $37,500 a year, about 23% higher. Arkansas follows at $34,430, and Mississippi is the closest at $31,520, just 3% above Louisiana's figure. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so it helps to know how nearby pay compares.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $30,510 | baseline |
| Texas | $37,500 | +23% |
| Arkansas | $34,430 | +13% |
| Mississippi | $31,520 | +3% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Louisiana a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Louisiana earn less than in most states: typical pay is $30,510 a year, 28% below the national figure, ranking 51st of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Louisiana, about 11 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. Pay trails the national figure here, but demand does not: CNAs make up a larger share of Louisiana's workforce than in most states.
Summary
Louisiana CNAs typically earn $30,510 a year ($14.67 an hour), a figure that has risen 51% over the past decade even as it remains below the national rate. For details on becoming certified, see Louisiana's CNA registry requirements, and check the city pages above for local pay in Metairie, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and other Louisiana metro areas.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Louisiana?
- A CNA in Louisiana typically earns **$14.67 an hour**, or about **$30,510 a year**, according to May 2025 government wage data. Pay varies by city and employer, with CNAs in the New Orleans area typically earning more than those in smaller cities like Monroe or Lafayette.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Louisiana?
- Louisiana CNAs typically earn **$14.67 an hour**. Entry-level CNAs often start closer to $13.45 an hour, while experienced CNAs in higher-paying cities can earn upwards of $17.98 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Louisiana?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Louisiana typically offer around **$13.45 to $13.97 an hour**, or roughly $27,980 to $29,070 a year, based on the lowest reported wage brackets. Pay tends to rise with experience, certifications, and shift differentials, with typical pay across the state reaching $14.67 an hour.
- Which city in Louisiana pays CNAs the most?
- **Metairie and New Orleans** pay CNAs the most in Louisiana, with typical pay of **$34,320 a year** ($16.50 an hour). Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell are close behind at $34,050 a year. Monroe has the lowest reported city pay, at $29,880 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Louisiana higher than the national rate?
- No. Louisiana CNAs earn about **28% less** than the national figure of $20.32 an hour ($42,260 a year), and the state ranks last among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Lower pay in Louisiana generally tracks a lower cost of living compared with higher-cost states.