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Certified nursing assistant: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $33,940lowest 10% earn less
- $37,26025th percentile
- $42,260median
- $47,22075th percentile
- $51,980top 10% earn more
Certified nursing assistants earned a median of $42,260 a year[1], less than the median for all occupations[2]. Employment is projected to grow more slowly than the all-occupations rate[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.6%[3]
- Openings per year
- 196,200[6]
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award[7]
How much do certified nursing assistants make?
Nursing assistants (the BLS title for this job) had a median wage of $42,260 a year, or $20.32 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean was $42,700 a year, or $20.53 an hour[8]. The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[2], so the median for nursing assistants was lower.
| Level | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[5][9] | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| 25th percentile[5][9] | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Median[1] | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| 75th percentile[5][9] | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 90th percentile[5][9] | $51,980 | $24.99 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,940 a year[5]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out self-employed people and benefits such as health insurance[11].
Pay by state and city
Oregon had the highest median wage for nursing assistants at $49,830 a year, followed by Washington at $49,180 and New York at $48,590[12]. Louisiana had the lowest at $30,510[12].
California had the most jobs at 110,060, followed by Florida at 96,960, Texas at 88,680, New York at 87,990 and Illinois at 68,640[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $56,840, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $56,080[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs at 79,480, with a median of $49,270[15].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon[12] | $49,830 | 14,800 |
| Washington | $49,180 | 30,270 |
| New York | $48,590 | 87,990 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | 7,810 |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 | 3,490 |
| California | $47,630 | 110,060 |
| Colorado | $47,380 | 22,240 |
| Vermont | $47,130 | 3,030 |
| Maine | $47,070 | 8,540 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | 32,400 |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | 38,130 |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | 29,120 |
| Rhode Island | $46,440 | 10,220 |
| Alaska | $46,370 | 2,060 |
| Illinois | $45,960 | 68,640 |
| North Dakota | $45,820 | 6,840 |
| Nevada | $45,490 | 8,100 |
| Hawaii | $45,350 | 5,050 |
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | 28,370 |
| Connecticut | $44,790 | 21,380 |
| Arizona | $44,780 | 20,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 | 67,740 |
| Maryland | $43,240 | 27,720 |
| Virginia | $43,200 | 40,580 |
| Delaware | $42,030 | 5,530 |
| Montana | $40,900 | 4,390 |
| Nebraska | $40,000 | 16,450 |
| Utah | $39,840 | 12,260 |
| Michigan | $39,570 | 43,290 |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | 4,750 |
| Iowa | $39,350 | 22,670 |
| Wyoming | $39,160 | 2,830 |
| Ohio | $39,010 | 63,280 |
| South Dakota | $38,800 | 6,860 |
| Idaho | $38,650 | 7,910 |
| North Carolina | $38,460 | 64,010 |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | 23,410 |
| Indiana | $38,330 | 33,640 |
| Kansas | $38,010 | 24,610 |
| Tennessee | $37,990 | 27,040 |
| Georgia | $37,680 | 43,440 |
| Missouri | $37,680 | 34,050 |
| Florida | $37,510 | 96,960 |
| Texas | $37,500 | 88,680 |
| South Carolina | $37,220 | 21,760 |
| West Virginia | $36,720 | 9,390 |
| Oklahoma | $35,930 | 19,410 |
| Arkansas | $34,430 | 17,260 |
| Alabama | $34,140 | 25,250 |
| Mississippi | $31,520 | 14,200 |
| Louisiana | $30,510 | 20,690 |
How to become a certified nursing assistant
The BLS profile behind the training details below also covers orderlies, so it describes a wider group than this page[16]. Requirements vary by state, and nursing assistants often need a state-issued license or certification[17].
- Step 1: Finish a state-approved education program[18]. It combines classes on nursing principles with supervised clinical work[18]. Programs run in places such as high schools, colleges, technical schools, hospitals and nursing homes[18].
- Step 2: Pass the state competency exam[17]. After the program, nursing assistants often have to pass it, and passing allows them to use titles set by the state[17].
- Step 3: Get on the state registry[19]. Those who pass are listed, and being listed is required to work in a nursing home[19].
- Step 4: Complete a brief period of on-the-job training on your employer's policies and procedures[20].
- Step 5: Check for other state rules[21]. Some states add other rules, for example ongoing education and a criminal background check[21].
The CNA title is used in some states, and BLS notes that names differ from state to state[17]. O*NET sample job titles reported by workers include Certified Nurse Aide, Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) and Nurses' Aide[22]. In some states, nursing assistants can earn extra credentials such as Certified Medication Assistant (CMA), who may then dispense medications[23].
BLS Employment Projections list a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education for entry, with no work experience listed[7]. In an O*NET survey of 29 workers, 39% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required and 24% said a post-secondary certificate[24]. The survey is small, so it gives only a rough picture.
What nursing assistants do
O*NET says nursing assistants give basic care and support to patients while working under licensed nursing staff on site[25]. Typical tasks include:
- Turning and repositioning patients who cannot leave their beds[26]
- Answering call signals to find out what patients need[26]
- Helping patients eat and drink[26]
- Measuring and recording food and liquid intake and output, and telling nurses about changes[26]
- Helping with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, using the toilet and walking[26]
- Passing on observations about patient behavior, complaints and symptoms to nurses[26]
- Reminding patients to take medications or supplements[26]
- Watching for signs that need medical attention, such as bruises or open wounds[26]
BLS lists communication, compassion and patience as important qualities for nursing assistants and orderlies[27][28][29].
Where they work
Nursing care facilities employed the largest share of nursing assistants and orderlies in 2025, at 36%[30].
The work can be strenuous, and workers are on their feet for much of the day[31]. Injury and illness rates for this group rank among the highest of any occupation[32]. Workers typically get training in safe lifting of people, which can lower injury risk[32].
Most work full time and some work part time[33]. Because care is needed around the clock in facilities and hospitals, nights, weekends and holidays may be part of the job[33].
Job outlook
BLS projects that employment of nursing assistants will grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, adding about 39,000 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[4], so this job is expected to grow more slowly.
About 196,200 openings a year are projected on average[6]. Openings include jobs that appear when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 6.1% of nursing assistants leave the labor force and 6.5% move to a different occupation[34].
The projection counts include self-employed workers[3], while the OEWS count of 1,448,910 jobs covers wage and salary jobs only[35].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job with a median wage below the all-occupations median[1][2]. The usual route is a state-approved program and a state exam[18][17]. The work is physically demanding and may include nights and weekends[31][33]. Growth is slower than for all occupations, but openings are numerous each year[3][4][6]. Pay differs by state, with medians from $30,510 to $49,830[12]. Check your own state's rules and local wages before deciding[17].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a certified nursing assistant make an hour?
- The median was $20.32 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $16.32 and the 90th percentile was $24.99[9].
- What training do you need to be a certified nursing assistant?
- Typically a state-approved education program, then the state competency exam[37][17]. BLS Employment Projections list a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education[7]. Details vary by state[17].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nursing Assistants in the US was $42,260 per year and $20.32 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Nursing Assistants is projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,505,900 to 1,544,900 jobs (a change of +39,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nursing Assistants: 10th percentile $33,940, 25th percentile $37,260, 75th percentile $47,220, 90th percentile $51,980. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 196,200 openings for Nursing Assistants are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Nursing Assistants: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Nursing Assistants was $42,700 per year and $20.53 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Nursing Assistants: 10th percentile $16.32, 25th percentile $17.91, 75th percentile $22.70, 90th percentile $24.99. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Nursing Assistants in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Nursing Assistants jobs: California 110,060; Florida 96,960; Texas 88,680; New York 87,990; Illinois 68,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Nursing Assistants (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $56,840; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $56,080; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $51,990; Napa, CA $50,370; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $50,350; Bend, OR $50,080; Boulder, CO $49,860; Grants Pass, OR $49,770. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Nursing Assistants jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 79,480 (median $49,270); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 45,850 (median $46,940); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 43,090 (median $47,380); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 30,680 (median $46,220); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 26,130 (median $47,590); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 25,520 (median $45,730). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Nursing Assistants and Orderlies" covers Nursing Assistants together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 31-1131.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Medication Aide (CMA), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Certified Nurses Aide (CNA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), Nurses' Aide, Nursing Aide, Nursing Assistant. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 31-1131.00 survey of workers (29 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 39%, Post-Secondary Certificate 24%, Some College Courses 12%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 10%, Bachelor's Degree 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Nursing Assistants. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Nursing Assistants. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of nursing assistants and orderlies in 2025: Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) 36%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Nursing Assistants: 6.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,448,910 people were employed as Nursing Assistants in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.