How Much Does a CNA Make in Virginia in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Virginia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Virginia earns about $20.77 per hour ($43,200 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That is about 2% above the national figure of $42,260 a year. Virginia ranks 24th among 51 states for CNA pay, with around 40,580 CNAs working across the state, from Northern Virginia's hospitals to rural nursing homes farther south.
How much does a CNA make in Virginia?
CNA pay by career stage in Virginia
| Career stage | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $31,560$15.17 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $37,020$17.80 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $43,200$20.77 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,930$22.56 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,980$24.51 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 Virginia
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Virginia · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, Virginia CNAs earned $24,450 a year. By 2025, that figure had climbed to $43,200, a 77% rise over the decade, or about $18,750 more per year. Nationally, CNA pay rose 64% over the same stretch, so Virginia's increase outpaced the country as a whole. Pay has been moving upward for CNAs entering the field in Virginia now, though no specific rate of continued growth is guaranteed for the years ahead.
CNA salary by city in Virginia
Pay runs highest in Arlington, where the metro-area median reaches $45,730 a year ($21.99 an hour). Charlottesville and Lynchburg follow close behind, both above $43,000 a year. At the other end, Bristol's metro area posts a median of $37,550 a year, a gap of $8,180 between the state's highest- and lowest-paying areas. Like most pay differences tied to place, this one tends to track local living costs rather than the work itself.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Virginia | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $45,730 | $21.99 | +6% | 25,520 |
| 2 | Charlottesville | $44,140 | $21.22 | +2% | 1,610 |
| 3 | Lynchburg | $43,660 | $20.99 | +1% | 1,300 |
| 4 | Richmond | $42,720 | $20.54 | -1% | 6,660 |
| 5 | Staunton metro incl. Stuarts Draft | $42,490 | $20.43 | -2% | 640 |
| 6 | Winchester | $39,970 | $19.22 | -7% | 810 |
| 7 | Virginia Beach | $38,990 | $18.75 | -10% | 8,110 |
| 8 | Roanoke | $38,960 | $18.73 | -10% | 2,430 |
| 9 | Harrisonburg | $38,830 | $18.67 | -10% | 540 |
| 10 | Blacksburg metro incl. Christiansburg · Radford | $37,850 | $18.20 | -12% | 760 |
| 11 | Bristol | $37,550 | $18.05 | -13% | 1,400 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $43,200
How Virginia compares with nearby states
Among neighboring states, the District of Columbia pays CNAs more, with a median of $47,700 a year, about 10% above Virginia. Maryland runs nearly even with Virginia's figure. Move south or west, and pay drops: North Carolina and Kentucky both come in around 11% lower, and West Virginia sits 15% below Virginia's median. A CNA licensed in Virginia can often test or transfer into a neighboring state, so it helps to know how pay compares across the border.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $43,200 | baseline |
| Maryland | $43,240 | 0% |
| North Carolina | $38,460 | -11% |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | -11% |
| Tennessee | $37,990 | -12% |
| West Virginia | $36,720 | -15% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Virginia a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Virginia earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $43,200 a year, 2% above the national figure, ranking 24th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Virginia, about 9.9 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. Overall, Virginia is a middle-of-the-table state for CNA pay, close to the national figure.
Summary
CNA pay in Virginia now stands at about $43,200 a year, up 77% over the past decade. For details on certification and licensing requirements, check Virginia's state nurse aide registry. For pay specific to a city or metro area, from Arlington to Bristol, see the local pages for exact figures.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Virginia?
- A CNA in Virginia typically earns about **$20.77 an hour**, which works out to **$43,200 a year**, according to May 2025 government wage data. That figure sits about 2% above the national median of $42,260, and pay varies by city and employer across the state.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Virginia?
- Virginia CNAs typically earn **$20.77 an hour**. Entry-level CNAs earn closer to **$15.17 an hour**, while experienced CNAs often earn upwards of $24.51 an hour, based on May 2025 wage data.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Virginia?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Virginia typically pay around **$15.17 an hour**, or about $31,560 a year. As CNAs gain experience, pay moves up toward **$17.80 an hour**, or roughly $37,020 a year, still on the newer end of the pay scale, according to May 2025 data.
- Which city in Virginia pays CNAs the most?
- **Arlington** pays CNAs the most in Virginia, with a metro-area median of **$45,730** a year ($21.99 an hour). Charlottesville and Lynchburg also pay above the state median, while Bristol's metro area posts the lowest figure, at $37,550 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Virginia higher than the national rate?
- Yes. Virginia's CNA median of **$43,200 a year** runs about 2% above the national median of $42,260, according to May 2025 wage data. Virginia ranks **24th** among 51 states for CNA pay.