How Much Does a CNA Make in Lafayette, LA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Lafayette, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Louisiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lafayette metro area
A typical CNA in Lafayette, Louisiana earns $14.40 per hour, or $29,960 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,497 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $27,260, and the top 10% of earners make over $36,630.
That pay is 2% below the Louisiana figure of $30,510 and 29% below the national figure of $42,260. Lafayette ranks 9th of 10 metro areas in Louisiana for CNA pay. About 1,990 CNAs work in the Lafayette area.
CNA pay in Lafayette at a glance
- Typical pay is $14.40 an hour, or $29,960 a year.
- That is 2% below the Louisiana figure, ranking 9th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $27,260; the top 10% make over $36,630.
- Typical pay rose +60% from 2015 to 2025, against +51% for Louisiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Lafayette?
Pay in Lafayette runs from entry-level positions at around $13.10 an hour to more than $17.61 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Louisiana and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Lafayette
| Career stage | Lafayette | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $27,260$13.10 an hour | $27,980$13.45 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $28,730$13.81 an hour | $29,070$13.97 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $29,960$14.40 an hour | $30,510$14.67 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $33,830$16.26 an hour | $35,100$16.87 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $36,630$17.61 an hour | $37,390$17.98 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lafayette area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Lafayette
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Lafayette area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Lafayette was $18,760 a year. By 2025 it had reached $29,960, a change of +60%, compared with +51% for Louisiana over the same years.
How Lafayette compares with other Louisiana cities
Metairie pays CNAs the most in Louisiana at $34,320 a year, $4,360 more than Lafayette. The lowest-paying area in the state is Monroe at $29,880.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lafayette | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metairie metro incl. New Orleans | $34,320 | $16.50 | +15% | 3,660 |
| 2 | Covington metro incl. Mandeville · Slidell | $34,050 | $16.37 | +14% | 1,030 |
| 3 | Lake Charles | $33,850 | $16.27 | +13% | 730 |
| 4 | Hammond | $33,010 | $15.87 | +10% | 600 |
| 5 | Bossier City metro incl. Shreveport | $32,160 | $15.46 | +7% | 2,330 |
| 6 | Baton Rouge | $31,220 | $15.01 | +4% | 3,500 |
| 7 | Alexandria | $30,650 | $14.74 | +2% | 910 |
| 8 | Thibodaux metro incl. Bayou Cane · Houma | $30,140 | $14.49 | +1% | 630 |
| 9 | Lafayette | $29,960 | $14.40 | this city | 1,990 |
| 10 | Monroe | $29,880 | $14.36 | 0% | 1,340 |
Every metro area in Louisiana with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Louisiana typical pay $30,510
Is Lafayette a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Lafayette earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $29,960 a year, 29% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lafayette area, 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Lafayette, LA?
- A typical CNA in Lafayette earns $29,960 a year, or $14.40 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $27,260 and the top 10% earn over $36,630.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Lafayette?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Lafayette is $14.40. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $13.10, and the top 10% earn over $17.61 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Lafayette?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Lafayette typically offer around $13.10 an hour, or $27,260 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Lafayette higher than in the rest of Louisiana?
- Lafayette pay is 2% below the Louisiana figure of $30,510 a year, ranking 9th of 10 metro areas in the state. Metairie pays the most in Louisiana at $34,320.