How Much Does a CNA Make in Arlington, VA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Arlington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical CNA in Arlington, Virginia earns $21.99 per hour, or $45,730 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,811 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,060, and the top 10% of earners make over $55,390.
That pay is 6% above the Virginia figure of $43,200 and 8% above the national figure of $42,260. Arlington ranks 1st of 11 metro areas in Virginia for CNA pay. About 25,520 CNAs work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
CNA pay in Arlington at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.99 an hour, or $45,730 a year.
- That is 6% above the Virginia figure, ranking 1st of 11 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,060; the top 10% make over $55,390.
- Typical pay rose +61% from 2015 to 2025, against +77% for Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Arlington?
Pay in Arlington runs from entry-level positions at around $17.34 an hour to more than $26.63 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Virginia and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Arlington
| Career stage | Arlington | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,060$17.34 an hour | $31,560$15.17 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,020$18.76 an hour | $37,020$17.80 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,730$21.99 an hour | $43,200$20.77 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,980$23.55 an hour | $46,930$22.56 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $55,390$26.63 an hour | $50,980$24.51 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Arlington
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Arlington was $28,380 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,730, a change of +61%, compared with +77% for Virginia over the same years.
How Arlington compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays CNAs the most of any metro area in Virginia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $37,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Arlington | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $45,730 | $21.99 | this city | 25,520 |
| 2 | Charlottesville | $44,140 | $21.22 | -3% | 1,610 |
| 3 | Lynchburg | $43,660 | $20.99 | -5% | 1,300 |
| 4 | Richmond | $42,720 | $20.54 | -7% | 6,660 |
| 5 | Stuarts Draft metro incl. Staunton | $42,490 | $20.43 | -7% | 640 |
| 6 | Winchester | $39,970 | $19.22 | -13% | 810 |
| 7 | Virginia Beach | $38,990 | $18.75 | -15% | 8,110 |
| 8 | Roanoke | $38,960 | $18.73 | -15% | 2,430 |
| 9 | Harrisonburg | $38,830 | $18.67 | -15% | 540 |
| 10 | Blacksburg metro incl. Christiansburg · Radford | $37,850 | $18.20 | -17% | 760 |
| 11 | Bristol | $37,550 | $18.05 | -18% | 1,400 |
Every metro area in Virginia with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $43,200
Is Arlington a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Arlington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $45,730 a year, 8% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 8.1 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. 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 Arlington, VA?
- A typical CNA in Arlington earns $45,730 a year, or $21.99 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,060 and the top 10% earn over $55,390.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Arlington?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Arlington is $21.99. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.34, and the top 10% earn over $26.63 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Arlington?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Arlington typically offer around $17.34 an hour, or $36,060 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Arlington higher than in the rest of Virginia?
- Arlington pay is 6% above the Virginia figure of $43,200 a year, ranking 1st of 11 metro areas in the state.