How Much Does a CNA Make in Bristol, VA in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical CNA in Bristol, Virginia earns $18.05 per hour, or $37,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,129 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,100, and the top 10% of earners make over $43,710.
That pay is 13% below the Virginia figure of $43,200 and 11% below the national figure of $42,260. Bristol ranks 11th of 11 metro areas in Virginia for CNA pay. About 1,400 CNAs work in the Kingsport · Bristol area.
CNA pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.05 an hour, or $37,550 a year.
- That is 13% below the Virginia figure, ranking 11th of 11 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,100; the top 10% make over $43,710.
- Typical pay rose +70% from 2015 to 2025, against +77% for Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $14.47 an hour to more than $21.02 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Virginia and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,100$14.47 an hour | $31,560$15.17 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $36,700$17.65 an hour | $37,020$17.80 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $37,550$18.05 an hour | $43,200$20.77 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $39,640$19.06 an hour | $46,930$22.56 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $43,710$21.02 an hour | $50,980$24.51 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Bristol
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Kingsport · Bristol area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Bristol was $22,110 a year. By 2025 it had reached $37,550, a change of +70%, compared with +77% for Virginia over the same years.
How Bristol compares with other Virginia cities
Arlington pays CNAs the most in Virginia at $45,730 a year, $8,180 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bristol at $37,550.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arlington | $45,730 | $21.99 | +22% | 25,520 |
| 2 | Charlottesville | $44,140 | $21.22 | +18% | 1,610 |
| 3 | Lynchburg | $43,660 | $20.99 | +16% | 1,300 |
| 4 | Richmond | $42,720 | $20.54 | +14% | 6,660 |
| 5 | Stuarts Draft metro incl. Staunton | $42,490 | $20.43 | +13% | 640 |
| 6 | Winchester | $39,970 | $19.22 | +6% | 810 |
| 7 | Virginia Beach | $38,990 | $18.75 | +4% | 8,110 |
| 8 | Roanoke | $38,960 | $18.73 | +4% | 2,430 |
| 9 | Harrisonburg | $38,830 | $18.67 | +3% | 540 |
| 10 | Blacksburg metro incl. Christiansburg · Radford | $37,850 | $18.20 | +1% | 760 |
| 11 | Bristol | $37,550 | $18.05 | this city | 1,400 |
Every metro area in Virginia with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Virginia typical pay $43,200
Is Bristol a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $37,550 a year, 11% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 12 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Bristol, VA?
- A typical CNA in Bristol earns $37,550 a year, or $18.05 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,100 and the top 10% earn over $43,710.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Bristol is $18.05. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.47, and the top 10% earn over $21.02 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Bristol?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Bristol typically offer around $14.47 an hour, or $30,100 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Virginia?
- Bristol pay is 13% below the Virginia figure of $43,200 a year, ranking 11th of 11 metro areas in the state. Arlington pays the most in Virginia at $45,730.