How Much Does a CNA Make in Wilmington, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Wilmington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Wilmington metro area
A typical CNA in Wilmington, North Carolina earns $18.13 per hour, or $37,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,143 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,710, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,100.
That pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $38,460 and 11% below the national figure of $42,260. Wilmington ranks 11th of 16 metro areas in North Carolina for CNA pay. About 2,390 CNAs work in the Wilmington area.
CNA pay in Wilmington at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.13 an hour, or $37,710 a year.
- That is 2% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 11th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $29,710; the top 10% make over $47,100.
- Typical pay rose +73% from 2015 to 2025, against +71% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Wilmington?
Pay in Wilmington runs from entry-level positions at around $14.29 an hour to more than $22.65 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 Wilmington
| Career stage | Wilmington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $29,710$14.29 an hour | $30,260$14.55 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $33,280$16.00 an hour | $35,950$17.28 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $37,710$18.13 an hour | $38,460$18.49 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $43,040$20.69 an hour | $43,850$21.08 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,100$22.65 an hour | $47,080$22.64 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Wilmington area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Wilmington
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Wilmington was $21,850 a year. By 2025 it had reached $37,710, a change of +73%, compared with +71% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Wilmington compares with other North Carolina cities
Durham pays CNAs the most in North Carolina at $40,560 a year, $2,850 more than Wilmington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jacksonville at $35,880.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Wilmington | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $40,560 | $19.50 | +8% | 4,830 |
| 2 | Asheville | $40,170 | $19.31 | +7% | 2,590 |
| 3 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $39,710 | $19.09 | +5% | 6,420 |
| 4 | Greenville | $39,480 | $18.98 | +5% | 1,730 |
| 5 | Charlotte | $39,430 | $18.96 | +5% | 13,580 |
| 6 | Burlington | $39,090 | $18.79 | +4% | 1,020 |
| 7 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $38,990 | $18.75 | +3% | 8,110 |
| 8 | Salem metro incl. Winston | $38,660 | $18.59 | +3% | 4,450 |
| 9 | Goldsboro | $38,540 | $18.53 | +2% | 600 |
| 10 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $38,260 | $18.39 | +1% | 5,280 |
| 11 | Wilmington | $37,710 | $18.13 | this city | 2,390 |
| 12 | Rocky Mount | $37,650 | $18.10 | 0% | 940 |
| 13 | Fayetteville | $37,530 | $18.05 | 0% | 2,130 |
| 14 | Lenoir | $37,430 | $18.00 | -1% | 2,780 |
| 15 | Pinehurst metro incl. Southern Pines | $36,930 | $17.76 | -2% | 950 |
| 16 | Jacksonville | $35,880 | $17.25 | -5% | 530 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $38,460
Is Wilmington a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Wilmington earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $37,710 a year, 11% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Wilmington area, about 12 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 Wilmington, NC?
- A typical CNA in Wilmington earns $37,710 a year, or $18.13 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $29,710 and the top 10% earn over $47,100.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Wilmington?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Wilmington is $18.13. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.29, and the top 10% earn over $22.65 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Wilmington?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Wilmington typically offer around $14.29 an hour, or $29,710 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Wilmington higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Wilmington pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $38,460 a year, ranking 11th of 16 metro areas in the state. Durham pays the most in North Carolina at $40,560.