How Much Does a CNA Make in Texas in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Texas, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Texas · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Texas earns about $18.03 per hour ($37,500 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is roughly 11% below the national figure of $20.32 an hour ($42,260 a year), and Texas ranks 44th out of 51 states for CNA pay. The state employs 88,680 certified nursing assistants, one of the larger CNA workforces in the country.
How much does a CNA make in Texas?
CNA pay by career stage in Texas
| Career stage | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,620$14.72 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $35,300$16.97 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $37,500$18.03 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $43,070$20.71 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,500$22.84 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Texas
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Texas · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
CNA pay in Texas has climbed steadily over the past decade. In 2015, typical pay stood at $23,350 a year; by 2025 it had reached $37,500, a 61% rise worth $14,150. That trend runs close to the national pace, where typical CNA pay rose 64% over the same period. Pay in Texas has been moving up year over year, including a sizable jump between 2022 and 2023. That is not a promise of future increases, but it reflects a decade of consistent gains for CNAs in the state.
CNA salary by city in Texas
Pay varies by city within Texas. Round Rock, part of the Austin metro area, posts the highest typical pay in the state at $38,550 a year ($18.53 an hour), a figure shared with Austin and San Marcos. Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth follow closely at $38,530 a year. At the other end, Brownsville and Harlingen sit around $32,110 a year.
That is a gap of about $6,440 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas listed here; each figure covers the full metro area. Higher pay in cities like Austin and Dallas tends to track a higher cost of living in those areas.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Texas | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin metro incl. Round Rock · San Marcos | $38,550 | $18.53 | +3% | 5,600 |
| 2 | Dallas metro incl. Fort Worth · Arlington | $38,530 | $18.53 | +3% | 23,420 |
| 3 | Houston metro incl. Pasadena · The Woodlands | $37,970 | $18.26 | +1% | 19,230 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls | $37,870 | $18.21 | +1% | 950 |
| 5 | Abilene | $37,460 | $18.01 | 0% | 800 |
| 6 | Waco | $37,290 | $17.93 | -1% | 1,480 |
| 7 | San Antonio metro incl. New Braunfels | $36,800 | $17.69 | -2% | 7,080 |
| 8 | Amarillo | $36,700 | $17.65 | -2% | 1,000 |
| 9 | Odessa | $36,250 | $17.43 | -3% | 410 |
| 10 | Killeen metro incl. Temple | $36,120 | $17.36 | -4% | 1,480 |
| 11 | Sherman metro incl. Denison | $35,970 | $17.29 | -4% | 610 |
| 12 | Midland | $35,970 | $17.29 | -4% | 580 |
| 13 | College Station metro incl. Bryan | $35,610 | $17.12 | -5% | 940 |
| 14 | San Angelo | $35,390 | $17.02 | -6% | 610 |
| 15 | Corpus Christi | $35,300 | $16.97 | -6% | 1,550 |
| 16 | Tyler | $35,300 | $16.97 | -6% | 1,610 |
| 17 | El Paso | $35,170 | $16.91 | -6% | 2,310 |
| 18 | Laredo | $35,120 | $16.89 | -6% | 510 |
| 19 | Beaumont metro incl. Port Arthur | $35,110 | $16.88 | -6% | 1,200 |
| 20 | Longview | $34,510 | $16.59 | -8% | 1,050 |
| 21 | Lubbock | $34,300 | $16.49 | -9% | 1,490 |
| 22 | McAllen | $33,990 | $16.34 | -9% | 2,140 |
| 23 | Victoria | $33,980 | $16.34 | -9% | 470 |
| 24 | Texarkana | $32,880 | $15.81 | -12% | 820 |
| 25 | Brownsville metro incl. Harlingen | $32,110 | $15.44 | -14% | 1,070 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Texas typical pay $37,500
How Texas compares with nearby states
Among the states bordering Texas, New Mexico pays CNAs the most, at $39,390 a year, about 5% higher than Texas. Louisiana pays the least, at $30,510 a year, about 19% lower. Oklahoma and Arkansas fall in between, both somewhat below the Texas figure. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so it helps to know how pay compares just across the border.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $37,500 | baseline |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | +5% |
| Oklahoma | $35,930 | -4% |
| Arkansas | $34,430 | -8% |
| Louisiana | $30,510 | -19% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Texas a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Texas earn less than in most states: typical pay is $37,500 a year, 11% below the national figure, ranking 44th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Texas, about 6.3 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. On pay alone, Texas ranks below most states, though typical pay here has risen 61% over the past decade.
Summary
Texas CNAs typically earn $18.03 an hour, or $37,500 a year, with pay up 61% over the past decade. For anyone pursuing or holding certification in Texas, the state registry page covers certification and renewal requirements, while the city pages break down local pay in Round Rock, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and other Texas cities.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Texas?
- A CNA in Texas typically earns $18.03 an hour, or about $37,500 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is somewhat below the national figure of $42,260 a year.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Texas?
- Typical hourly pay for a CNA in Texas is $18.03, according to May 2025 government wage data. Entry-level CNAs often start closer to $14.72 an hour, while experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $22.84 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Texas?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Texas typically offer around $14.72 an hour, or about $30,620 a year. Pay rises with experience, and typical pay across all experience levels reaches $18.03 an hour.
- Which city in Texas pays CNAs the most?
- Round Rock, part of the Austin metro area, posts the highest typical CNA pay in Texas at $38,550 a year ($18.53 an hour). Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth pay close behind at $38,530 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Texas higher than the national rate?
- No. Typical CNA pay in Texas is about 11% below the national figure, $18.03 an hour compared with $20.32 nationally. Texas ranks 44th out of 51 states for CNA pay.