How Much Does a CNA Make in Baton Rouge, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Baton Rouge, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Louisiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · Baton Rouge metro area
A typical CNA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana earns $15.01 per hour, or $31,220 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,602 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,070, and the top 10% of earners make over $37,270.
That pay is 2% above the Louisiana figure of $30,510 and 26% below the national figure of $42,260. Baton Rouge ranks 6th of 10 metro areas in Louisiana for CNA pay. About 3,500 CNAs work in the Baton Rouge area.
CNA pay in Baton Rouge at a glance
- Typical pay is $15.01 an hour, or $31,220 a year.
- That is 2% above the Louisiana figure, ranking 6th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,070; the top 10% make over $37,270.
- Typical pay rose +48% from 2015 to 2025, against +51% for Louisiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Baton Rouge?
Pay in Baton Rouge runs from entry-level positions at around $13.97 an hour to more than $17.92 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Baton Rouge
| Career stage | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $29,070$13.97 an hour | $27,980$13.45 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $29,980$14.42 an hour | $29,070$13.97 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $31,220$15.01 an hour | $30,510$14.67 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $35,020$16.84 an hour | $35,100$16.87 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $37,270$17.92 an hour | $37,390$17.98 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Baton Rouge area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Baton Rouge
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Baton Rouge area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Baton Rouge was $21,080 a year. By 2025 it had reached $31,220, a change of +48%, compared with +51% for Louisiana over the same years.
How Baton Rouge compares with other Louisiana cities
Metairie pays CNAs the most in Louisiana at $34,320 a year, $3,100 more than Baton Rouge. The lowest-paying area in the state is Monroe at $29,880.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Baton Rouge | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metairie metro incl. New Orleans | $34,320 | $16.50 | +10% | 3,660 |
| 2 | Covington metro incl. Mandeville · Slidell | $34,050 | $16.37 | +9% | 1,030 |
| 3 | Lake Charles | $33,850 | $16.27 | +8% | 730 |
| 4 | Hammond | $33,010 | $15.87 | +6% | 600 |
| 5 | Bossier City metro incl. Shreveport | $32,160 | $15.46 | +3% | 2,330 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | $31,220 | $15.01 | this city | 3,500 |
| 7 | Alexandria | $30,650 | $14.74 | -2% | 910 |
| 8 | Thibodaux metro incl. Bayou Cane · Houma | $30,140 | $14.49 | -3% | 630 |
| 9 | Lafayette | $29,960 | $14.40 | -4% | 1,990 |
| 10 | Monroe | $29,880 | $14.36 | -4% | 1,340 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $30,510
Is Baton Rouge a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Baton Rouge earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $31,220 a year, 26% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Baton Rouge area, about 8.5 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. 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 Baton Rouge, LA?
- A typical CNA in Baton Rouge earns $31,220 a year, or $15.01 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $29,070 and the top 10% earn over $37,270.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Baton Rouge?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Baton Rouge is $15.01. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $13.97, and the top 10% earn over $17.92 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Baton Rouge?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Baton Rouge typically offer around $13.97 an hour, or $29,070 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Baton Rouge higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- Baton Rouge pay is 2% above the Louisiana figure of $30,510 a year, ranking 6th of 10 metro areas in the state. Metairie pays the most in Louisiana at $34,320.