How Much Does a CNA Make in Charleston, WV in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across West Virginia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston metro area
A typical CNA in Charleston, West Virginia earns $17.43 per hour, or $36,250 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,021 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,620, and the top 10% of earners make over $43,640.
That pay is 1% below the West Virginia figure of $36,720 and 14% below the national figure of $42,260. Charleston ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in West Virginia for CNA pay. About 1,380 CNAs work in the Charleston area.
CNA pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.43 an hour, or $36,250 a year.
- That is 1% below the West Virginia figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $32,620; the top 10% make over $43,640.
- Typical pay rose +55% from 2015 to 2025, against +60% for West Virginia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $15.68 an hour to more than $20.98 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the West Virginia and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | West Virginia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $32,620$15.68 an hour | $31,060$14.93 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $35,930$17.27 an hour | $35,460$17.05 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $36,250$17.43 an hour | $36,720$17.66 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $37,970$18.25 an hour | $38,410$18.47 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $43,640$20.98 an hour | $45,290$21.77 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Charleston was $23,340 a year. By 2025 it had reached $36,250, a change of +55%, compared with +60% for West Virginia over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other West Virginia cities
Martinsburg pays CNAs the most in West Virginia at $41,870 a year, $5,620 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Beckley at $35,810.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg | $41,870 | $20.13 | +16% | 970 |
| 2 | Huntington | $37,140 | $17.86 | +2% | 1,950 |
| 3 | Wheeling | $36,910 | $17.75 | +2% | 910 |
| 4 | Charleston | $36,250 | $17.43 | this city | 1,380 |
| 5 | Vienna metro incl. Parkersburg | $36,220 | $17.42 | 0% | 400 |
| 6 | Weirton metro incl. Steubenville | $36,190 | $17.40 | 0% | 660 |
| 7 | Morgantown | $35,880 | $17.25 | -1% | 1,310 |
| 8 | Beckley | $35,810 | $17.22 | -1% | 590 |
Every metro area in West Virginia with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · West Virginia typical pay $36,720
Is Charleston a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Charleston earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $36,250 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston area, about 13 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. 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 Charleston, WV?
- A typical CNA in Charleston earns $36,250 a year, or $17.43 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $32,620 and the top 10% earn over $43,640.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Charleston is $17.43. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.68, and the top 10% earn over $20.98 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Charleston?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Charleston typically offer around $15.68 an hour, or $32,620 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of West Virginia?
- Charleston pay is 1% below the West Virginia figure of $36,720 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Martinsburg pays the most in West Virginia at $41,870.