How Much Does a CNA Make in New Hampshire in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in New Hampshire, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · New Hampshire · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in New Hampshire earns about $23.02 per hour ($47,870 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is roughly 13% above the national figure of $20.32 per hour ($42,260 per year).
New Hampshire ranks 4th among all 51 states and territories for CNA pay. About 7,810 CNAs work across the state, a workforce large enough to support steady openings in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care.
How much does a CNA make in New Hampshire?
CNA pay by career stage in New Hampshire
| Career stage | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,140$18.82 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $44,890$21.58 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $47,870$23.02 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $54,400$26.16 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,660$28.68 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in New Hampshire
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in New Hampshire · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in New Hampshire stood at $29,030 per year. By 2025, that figure had climbed to $47,870, a 65% rise over the decade. That edges out the national CNA pay increase of 64% over the same stretch.
Pay in New Hampshire moved upward through the entire ten-year span, including a sharp jump between 2022 and 2023. That does not promise future raises, but it shows a decade of consistent upward movement for people entering the field now.
CNA salary by city in New Hampshire
Pay runs highest in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, which extends into southern New Hampshire near the Massachusetts border. CNAs there typically earn $47,590 per year ($22.88 per hour). Manchester and Nashua, the state's two largest employment centers, both report typical pay of $46,400 per year ($22.31 per hour), a gap of about $1,190 from the top-paying area.
As in most fields, pay near a high-cost-of-living area like Boston tends to run higher than in more affordable parts of the state, simply to match local living expenses. These figures reflect each area's full metro region, not just the city itself.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs New Hampshire | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge metro incl. Newton | $47,590 | $22.88 | -1% | 26,130 |
| 2 | Manchester metro incl. Nashua | $46,400 | $22.31 | -3% | 2,410 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · New Hampshire typical pay $47,870
How New Hampshire compares with nearby states
New Hampshire's neighbors pay CNAs at similarly strong rates. Vermont's typical pay of $47,130 per year comes in about 2% below New Hampshire's, and Maine ($47,070) and Massachusetts ($46,680) both sit a similar 2% lower. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer certification into a nearby one, so nearby pay is worth knowing before deciding where to work.
| State | Typical pay | Vs New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | baseline |
| Vermont | $47,130 | -2% |
| Maine | $47,070 | -2% |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | -2% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is New Hampshire a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in New Hampshire earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $47,870 a year, 13% above the national figure and the 4th highest of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in New Hampshire, 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. Taken together, New Hampshire is one of the better-paying states for CNAs.
Summary
CNAs in New Hampshire typically earn $23.02 per hour ($47,870 per year), up 65% over the past decade and running ahead of the national pay rate. For next steps, check New Hampshire's state registry page for certification and renewal requirements, and look at the city-level pages for Manchester, Nashua, and nearby metro areas to compare local pay before applying.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in New Hampshire?
- A typical CNA in New Hampshire earns about $23.02 per hour, or $47,870 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is higher than the national typical pay of $20.32 per hour ($42,260 per year).
- How much does a CNA make an hour in New Hampshire?
- CNAs in New Hampshire typically earn $23.02 per hour. Entry-level positions typically start around $18.82 per hour, while experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $28.68 per hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in New Hampshire?
- Entry-level CNAs in New Hampshire typically start around $18.82 per hour, or about $39,140 per year. As experience builds, pay moves toward the state's typical rate of $23.02 per hour ($47,870 per year).
- Which city in New Hampshire pays CNAs the most?
- The Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, which extends into southern New Hampshire, reports the highest typical pay at $47,590 per year ($22.88 per hour). Within the state's own metro areas, Manchester and Nashua both report $46,400 per year ($22.31 per hour).
- Is CNA pay in New Hampshire higher than the national rate?
- Yes. New Hampshire's typical CNA pay of $23.02 per hour ($47,870 per year) runs about 13% above the national rate of $20.32 per hour ($42,260 per year). New Hampshire ranks 4th among all states for CNA pay.