How Much Does a CNA Make in Salem, OR in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Salem, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Oregon.
BLS OES May 2025 · Salem metro area
A typical CNA in Salem, Oregon earns $23.48 per hour, or $48,840 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,070 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $44,960, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,300.
That pay is 2% below the Oregon figure of $49,830 and 16% above the national figure of $42,260. Salem ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Oregon for CNA pay. About 1,390 CNAs work in the Salem area.
CNA pay in Salem at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.48 an hour, or $48,840 a year.
- That is 2% below the Oregon figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $44,960; the top 10% make over $62,300.
- Typical pay rose +69% from 2015 to 2025, against +70% for Oregon as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Salem?
Pay in Salem runs from entry-level positions at around $21.62 an hour to more than $29.95 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Oregon and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Salem
| Career stage | Salem | Oregon | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $44,960$21.62 an hour | $43,210$20.78 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $47,300$22.74 an hour | $47,480$22.83 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $48,840$23.48 an hour | $49,830$23.96 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $59,510$28.61 an hour | $59,080$28.40 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,300$29.95 an hour | $61,310$29.48 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Salem area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Salem
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Salem area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Salem was $28,870 a year. By 2025 it had reached $48,840, a change of +69%, compared with +70% for Oregon over the same years.
How Salem compares with other Oregon cities
Portland pays CNAs the most in Oregon at $50,350 a year, $1,510 more than Salem. The lowest-paying area in the state is Medford at $47,890.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Salem | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland | $50,350 | $24.21 | +3% | 8,890 |
| 2 | Bend | $50,080 | $24.08 | +3% | 620 |
| 3 | Grants Pass | $49,770 | $23.93 | +2% | 420 |
| 4 | Salem | $48,840 | $23.48 | this city | 1,390 |
| 5 | Corvallis | $48,830 | $23.48 | 0% | 340 |
| 6 | Albany | $48,550 | $23.34 | -1% | 530 |
| 7 | Springfield metro incl. Eugene | $48,320 | $23.23 | -1% | 1,540 |
| 8 | Medford | $47,890 | $23.02 | -2% | 1,000 |
Every metro area in Oregon with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Oregon typical pay $49,830
Is Salem a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Salem earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $48,840 a year, 16% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Salem area, about 7.4 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 Salem, OR?
- A typical CNA in Salem earns $48,840 a year, or $23.48 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $44,960 and the top 10% earn over $62,300.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Salem?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Salem is $23.48. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $21.62, and the top 10% earn over $29.95 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Salem?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Salem typically offer around $21.62 an hour, or $44,960 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Salem higher than in the rest of Oregon?
- Salem pay is 2% below the Oregon figure of $49,830 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Portland pays the most in Oregon at $50,350.