How Much Does a CNA Make in Princeton, NJ in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Princeton, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across New Jersey.
BLS OES May 2025 · Trenton · Princeton metro area
A typical CNA in Princeton, New Jersey earns $22.10 per hour, or $45,980 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,832 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,090, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,380.
That pay is 2% below the New Jersey figure of $46,830 and 9% above the national figure of $42,260. Princeton ranks 4th of 6 metro areas in New Jersey for CNA pay. About 1,690 CNAs work in the Trenton · Princeton area. Princeton is part of the Trenton · Princeton metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Trenton share these figures.
CNA pay in Princeton at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.10 an hour, or $45,980 a year.
- That is 2% below the New Jersey figure, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,090; the top 10% make over $49,380.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Princeton?
Pay in Princeton runs from entry-level positions at around $18.79 an hour to more than $23.74 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the New Jersey and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Princeton
| Career stage | Princeton | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,090$18.79 an hour | $38,900$18.70 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $42,870$20.61 an hour | $43,950$21.13 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,980$22.10 an hour | $46,830$22.52 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,900$23.03 an hour | $48,760$23.44 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,380$23.74 an hour | $55,140$26.51 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Trenton · Princeton area as BLS defines it
How Princeton compares with other New Jersey cities
Newark pays CNAs the most in New Jersey at $49,270 a year, $3,290 more than Princeton. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hammonton at $43,080.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Princeton | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark metro incl. Jersey City | $49,270 | $23.69 | +7% | 79,480 |
| 2 | Vineland | $48,890 | $23.51 | +6% | 770 |
| 3 | Camden | $46,220 | $22.22 | +1% | 30,680 |
| 4 | Princeton metro incl. Trenton | $45,980 | $22.10 | this city | 1,690 |
| 5 | Bethlehem metro incl. Easton | $44,360 | $21.33 | -4% | 4,970 |
| 6 | Atlantic City metro incl. Hammonton | $43,080 | $20.71 | -6% | 1,450 |
Every metro area in New Jersey with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · New Jersey typical pay $46,830
Is Princeton a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Princeton earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $45,980 a year, 9% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Trenton · Princeton area, about 7.0 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes CNAs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Princeton, NJ?
- A typical CNA in Princeton earns $45,980 a year, or $22.10 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,090 and the top 10% earn over $49,380.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Princeton?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Princeton is $22.10. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.79, and the top 10% earn over $23.74 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Princeton?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Princeton typically offer around $18.79 an hour, or $39,090 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Princeton higher than in the rest of New Jersey?
- Princeton pay is 2% below the New Jersey figure of $46,830 a year, ranking 4th of 6 metro areas in the state. Newark pays the most in New Jersey at $49,270.