How Much Does a CNA Make in Boston, MA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Boston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Massachusetts.
BLS OES May 2025 · Boston · Cambridge · Newton metro area
A typical CNA in Boston, Massachusetts earns $22.88 per hour, or $47,590 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,966 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $40,190, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,450.
That pay is 2% above the Massachusetts figure of $46,680 and 13% above the national figure of $42,260. Boston ranks 2nd of 7 metro areas in Massachusetts for CNA pay. About 26,130 CNAs work in the Boston · Cambridge · Newton area.
CNA pay in Boston at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.88 an hour, or $47,590 a year.
- That is 2% above the Massachusetts figure, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $40,190; the top 10% make over $59,450.
- Typical pay rose +63% from 2015 to 2025, against +60% for Massachusetts as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Boston?
Pay in Boston runs from entry-level positions at around $19.32 an hour to more than $28.58 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Massachusetts and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Boston
| Career stage | Boston | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $40,190$19.32 an hour | $39,380$18.93 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $44,940$21.61 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $47,590$22.88 an hour | $46,680$22.44 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $50,060$24.07 an hour | $49,800$23.94 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,450$28.58 an hour | $57,880$27.83 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Boston · Cambridge · Newton area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Boston
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Boston · Cambridge · Newton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Boston was $29,240 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,590, a change of +63%, compared with +60% for Massachusetts over the same years.
How Boston compares with other Massachusetts cities
Barnstable Town pays CNAs the most in Massachusetts at $48,520 a year, $930 more than Boston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Springfield at $44,740.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Boston | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnstable Town | $48,520 | $23.33 | +2% | 1,030 |
| 2 | Boston | $47,590 | $22.88 | this city | 26,130 |
| 3 | Pittsfield | $46,620 | $22.41 | -2% | 810 |
| 4 | Warwick | $46,330 | $22.27 | -3% | 13,030 |
| 5 | Northampton metro incl. Amherst Town | $46,110 | $22.17 | -3% | 540 |
| 6 | Worcester | $45,710 | $21.98 | -4% | 5,250 |
| 7 | Springfield | $44,740 | $21.51 | -6% | 2,930 |
Every metro area in Massachusetts with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Massachusetts typical pay $46,680
Is Boston a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Boston earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $47,590 a year, 13% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Boston · Cambridge · Newton area, about 9.7 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 Boston, MA?
- A typical CNA in Boston earns $47,590 a year, or $22.88 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $40,190 and the top 10% earn over $59,450.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Boston?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Boston is $22.88. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.32, and the top 10% earn over $28.58 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Boston?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Boston typically offer around $19.32 an hour, or $40,190 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Boston higher than in the rest of Massachusetts?
- Boston pay is 2% above the Massachusetts figure of $46,680 a year, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state. Barnstable Town pays the most in Massachusetts at $48,520.