How Much Does a CNA Make in Reading, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Reading, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Reading metro area
A typical CNA in Reading, Pennsylvania earns $21.89 per hour, or $45,530 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,794 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,560, and the top 10% of earners make over $51,680.
That pay is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure of $44,590 and 8% above the national figure of $42,260. Reading ranks 2nd of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for CNA pay. About 1,830 CNAs work in the Reading area.
CNA pay in Reading at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.89 an hour, or $45,530 a year.
- That is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 2nd of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,560; the top 10% make over $51,680.
- Typical pay rose +70% from 2015 to 2025, against +59% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Reading?
Pay in Reading runs from entry-level positions at around $18.54 an hour to more than $24.85 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Reading
| Career stage | Reading | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,560$18.54 an hour | $37,760$18.16 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,040$18.77 an hour | $39,270$18.88 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,530$21.89 an hour | $44,590$21.44 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $49,570$23.83 an hour | $46,850$22.52 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $51,680$24.85 an hour | $49,360$23.73 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Reading area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Reading
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Reading area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Reading was $26,860 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,530, a change of +70%, compared with +59% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Reading compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays CNAs the most in Pennsylvania at $46,220 a year, $690 more than Reading. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $38,760.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Reading | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $46,220 | $22.22 | +2% | 30,680 |
| 2 | Reading | $45,530 | $21.89 | this city | 1,830 |
| 3 | Lebanon | $45,340 | $21.80 | 0% | 730 |
| 4 | Chambersburg | $45,260 | $21.76 | -1% | 540 |
| 5 | Lancaster | $44,890 | $21.58 | -1% | 3,380 |
| 6 | Hanover metro incl. York | $44,530 | $21.41 | -2% | 1,890 |
| 7 | Allentown | $44,360 | $21.33 | -3% | 4,970 |
| 8 | Wilkes | $43,980 | $21.14 | -3% | 3,080 |
| 9 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $43,940 | $21.12 | -3% | 4,490 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | $43,080 | $20.71 | -5% | 12,140 |
| 11 | Gettysburg | $42,520 | $20.44 | -7% | 370 |
| 12 | Williamsport | $39,830 | $19.15 | -13% | 730 |
| 13 | State College | $39,440 | $18.96 | -13% | 540 |
| 14 | Erie | $39,430 | $18.96 | -13% | 1,800 |
| 15 | Altoona | $38,870 | $18.69 | -15% | 820 |
| 16 | Johnstown | $38,760 | $18.64 | -15% | 440 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $44,590
Is Reading a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Reading earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $45,530 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Reading area, about 10 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 Reading, PA?
- A typical CNA in Reading earns $45,530 a year, or $21.89 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,560 and the top 10% earn over $51,680.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Reading?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Reading is $21.89. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.54, and the top 10% earn over $24.85 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Reading?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Reading typically offer around $18.54 an hour, or $38,560 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Reading higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Reading pay is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure of $44,590 a year, ranking 2nd of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $46,220.