How Much Does a CNA Make in Harrisburg, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Harrisburg, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Harrisburg · Carlisle metro area
A typical CNA in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania earns $21.12 per hour, or $43,940 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,662 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,610, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,540.
That pay is 1% below the Pennsylvania figure of $44,590 and 4% above the national figure of $42,260. Harrisburg ranks 9th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for CNA pay. About 4,490 CNAs work in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area. Harrisburg is part of the Harrisburg · Carlisle metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Carlisle share these figures.
CNA pay in Harrisburg at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.12 an hour, or $43,940 a year.
- That is 1% below the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 9th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,610; the top 10% make over $46,540.
- Typical pay rose +54% from 2015 to 2025, against +59% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Harrisburg?
Pay in Harrisburg runs from entry-level positions at around $18.08 an hour to more than $22.38 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Harrisburg
| Career stage | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,610$18.08 an hour | $37,760$18.16 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,210$18.85 an hour | $39,270$18.88 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $43,940$21.12 an hour | $44,590$21.44 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $44,390$21.34 an hour | $46,850$22.52 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,540$22.38 an hour | $49,360$23.73 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Harrisburg · Carlisle area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Harrisburg
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Harrisburg was $28,570 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,940, a change of +54%, compared with +59% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Harrisburg compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays CNAs the most in Pennsylvania at $46,220 a year, $2,280 more than Harrisburg. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $38,760.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Harrisburg | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $46,220 | $22.22 | +5% | 30,680 |
| 2 | Reading | $45,530 | $21.89 | +4% | 1,830 |
| 3 | Lebanon | $45,340 | $21.80 | +3% | 730 |
| 4 | Chambersburg | $45,260 | $21.76 | +3% | 540 |
| 5 | Lancaster | $44,890 | $21.58 | +2% | 3,380 |
| 6 | Hanover metro incl. York | $44,530 | $21.41 | +1% | 1,890 |
| 7 | Allentown | $44,360 | $21.33 | +1% | 4,970 |
| 8 | Wilkes | $43,980 | $21.14 | 0% | 3,080 |
| 9 | Harrisburg metro incl. Carlisle | $43,940 | $21.12 | this city | 4,490 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | $43,080 | $20.71 | -2% | 12,140 |
| 11 | Gettysburg | $42,520 | $20.44 | -3% | 370 |
| 12 | Williamsport | $39,830 | $19.15 | -9% | 730 |
| 13 | State College | $39,440 | $18.96 | -10% | 540 |
| 14 | Erie | $39,430 | $18.96 | -10% | 1,800 |
| 15 | Altoona | $38,870 | $18.69 | -12% | 820 |
| 16 | Johnstown | $38,760 | $18.64 | -12% | 440 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $44,590
Is Harrisburg a good place to work as a CNA?
CNA pay in Harrisburg sits close to the national figure: $43,940 a year, 4% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Harrisburg · Carlisle area, about 13 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 Harrisburg, PA?
- A typical CNA in Harrisburg earns $43,940 a year, or $21.12 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,610 and the top 10% earn over $46,540.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Harrisburg?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Harrisburg is $21.12. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.08, and the top 10% earn over $22.38 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Harrisburg?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Harrisburg typically offer around $18.08 an hour, or $37,610 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Harrisburg higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Harrisburg pay is 1% below the Pennsylvania figure of $44,590 a year, ranking 9th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $46,220.