How Much Does a CNA Make in Philadelphia, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Philadelphia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington metro area
A typical CNA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania earns $22.22 per hour, or $46,220 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,852 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,600, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,860.
That pay is 4% above the Pennsylvania figure of $44,590 and 9% above the national figure of $42,260. Philadelphia ranks 1st of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for CNA pay. About 30,680 CNAs work in the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area.
CNA pay in Philadelphia at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.22 an hour, or $46,220 a year.
- That is 4% above the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 1st of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,600; the top 10% make over $49,860.
- Typical pay rose +62% from 2015 to 2025, against +59% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Philadelphia?
Pay in Philadelphia runs from entry-level positions at around $18.56 an hour to more than $23.97 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Philadelphia
| Career stage | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,600$18.56 an hour | $37,760$18.16 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $43,370$20.85 an hour | $39,270$18.88 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $46,220$22.22 an hour | $44,590$21.44 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,560$22.87 an hour | $46,850$22.52 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,860$23.97 an hour | $49,360$23.73 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Philadelphia
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Philadelphia was $28,460 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,220, a change of +62%, compared with +59% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Philadelphia compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays CNAs the most of any metro area in Pennsylvania. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $38,760.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Philadelphia | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $46,220 | $22.22 | this city | 30,680 |
| 2 | Reading | $45,530 | $21.89 | -1% | 1,830 |
| 3 | Lebanon | $45,340 | $21.80 | -2% | 730 |
| 4 | Chambersburg | $45,260 | $21.76 | -2% | 540 |
| 5 | Lancaster | $44,890 | $21.58 | -3% | 3,380 |
| 6 | Hanover metro incl. York | $44,530 | $21.41 | -4% | 1,890 |
| 7 | Allentown | $44,360 | $21.33 | -4% | 4,970 |
| 8 | Wilkes | $43,980 | $21.14 | -5% | 3,080 |
| 9 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $43,940 | $21.12 | -5% | 4,490 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | $43,080 | $20.71 | -7% | 12,140 |
| 11 | Gettysburg | $42,520 | $20.44 | -8% | 370 |
| 12 | Williamsport | $39,830 | $19.15 | -14% | 730 |
| 13 | State College | $39,440 | $18.96 | -15% | 540 |
| 14 | Erie | $39,430 | $18.96 | -15% | 1,800 |
| 15 | Altoona | $38,870 | $18.69 | -16% | 820 |
| 16 | Johnstown | $38,760 | $18.64 | -16% | 440 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $44,590
Is Philadelphia a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Philadelphia earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $46,220 a year, 9% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Philadelphia · Camden · Wilmington area, about 11 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Philadelphia, PA?
- A typical CNA in Philadelphia earns $46,220 a year, or $22.22 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,600 and the top 10% earn over $49,860.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Philadelphia?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Philadelphia is $22.22. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.56, and the top 10% earn over $23.97 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Philadelphia?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Philadelphia typically offer around $18.56 an hour, or $38,600 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Philadelphia higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Philadelphia pay is 4% above the Pennsylvania figure of $44,590 a year, ranking 1st of 16 metro areas in the state.