How Much Does a CNA Make in Cary, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Cary, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Raleigh · Cary metro area
A typical CNA in Cary, North Carolina earns $19.09 per hour, or $39,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,309 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,660, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,740.
That pay is 3% above the North Carolina figure of $38,460 and 6% below the national figure of $42,260. Cary ranks 3rd of 16 metro areas in North Carolina for CNA pay. About 6,420 CNAs work in the Raleigh · Cary area. Cary is part of the Raleigh · Cary metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Raleigh share these figures.
CNA pay in Cary at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.09 an hour, or $39,710 a year.
- That is 3% above the North Carolina figure, ranking 3rd of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,660; the top 10% make over $47,740.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Cary?
Pay in Cary runs from entry-level positions at around $14.74 an hour to more than $22.95 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Cary
| Career stage | Cary | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,660$14.74 an hour | $30,260$14.55 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $36,820$17.70 an hour | $35,950$17.28 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $39,710$19.09 an hour | $38,460$18.49 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,410$21.83 an hour | $43,850$21.08 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,740$22.95 an hour | $47,080$22.64 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Raleigh · Cary area as BLS defines it
How Cary compares with other North Carolina cities
Durham pays CNAs the most in North Carolina at $40,560 a year, $850 more than Cary. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jacksonville at $35,880.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cary | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $40,560 | $19.50 | +2% | 4,830 |
| 2 | Asheville | $40,170 | $19.31 | +1% | 2,590 |
| 3 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $39,710 | $19.09 | this city | 6,420 |
| 4 | Greenville | $39,480 | $18.98 | -1% | 1,730 |
| 5 | Charlotte | $39,430 | $18.96 | -1% | 13,580 |
| 6 | Burlington | $39,090 | $18.79 | -2% | 1,020 |
| 7 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $38,990 | $18.75 | -2% | 8,110 |
| 8 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $38,660 | $18.59 | -3% | 4,450 |
| 9 | Goldsboro | $38,540 | $18.53 | -3% | 600 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $38,260 | $18.39 | -4% | 5,280 |
| 11 | Wilmington | $37,710 | $18.13 | -5% | 2,390 |
| 12 | Rocky Mount | $37,650 | $18.10 | -5% | 940 |
| 13 | Fayetteville | $37,530 | $18.05 | -5% | 2,130 |
| 14 | Lenoir | $37,430 | $18.00 | -6% | 2,780 |
| 15 | Pinehurst metro incl. Southern Pines | $36,930 | $17.76 | -7% | 950 |
| 16 | Jacksonville | $35,880 | $17.25 | -10% | 530 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $38,460
Is Cary a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Cary earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,710 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Raleigh · Cary area, about 8.6 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 Cary, NC?
- A typical CNA in Cary earns $39,710 a year, or $19.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,660 and the top 10% earn over $47,740.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Cary?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Cary is $19.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.74, and the top 10% earn over $22.95 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Cary?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Cary typically offer around $14.74 an hour, or $30,660 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Cary higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Cary pay is 3% above the North Carolina figure of $38,460 a year, ranking 3rd of 16 metro areas in the state. Durham pays the most in North Carolina at $40,560.