Of the many ways you can break into the field of nursing, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is among the quickest and easiest. In fact, many who aspire to be registered nurses one day begin by earning their CNA certifications. After all, in just four to 12 weeks, you can earn the credentials you need and can start applying for jobs as a CNA.
Like many, you're probably wondering what to expect in terms of compensation. As with any career, the amount you can expect to earn as a CNA depends on a variety of factors. Geography is among the biggest of them. Indeed, CNAs in some states make far more than CNAs in others. We've compiled a list of the 15 states offering top salaries for CNAs. Read on to learn more.
Top 15 States Where CNAs Earn the Most
All of the information below is current as of May 2024 and has been pulled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
1. California
Annual mean CNA salary in California is $48,790, or $23.46 per hour. Employment estimate for CNAs in California stands at 102,380. California is not only a top state for CNAs, but it is routinely listed as a top place for RNs and LPNs too. Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level for CNAs in California are Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim. The top paying metropolitan areas of California for CNAs include Salinas, San Francisco, Oakland, Hayward, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Vallejo, Fairfield, Sacramento, Roseville, Arden and Arcade. The North Coast Region of California is among the top paying nonmetropolitan areas for CNAs in the U.S., with the annual mean wage being $47,150.
2. Alaska
Annual mean CNA salary in Alaska is $48,550, or $23.34 per hour. Estimated employment for CNAs in Alaska is 1,660. The highest paying areas are large metro regions like Anchorage (annual mean salary: $46,680). The Alaska nonmetropolitan area is the nation's top most paying nonmetropolitan area, with the annual mean wage being $51,390.
3. New York
Annual mean CNA salary in New York is $47,530, or $22.85 per hour. Employment estimate for CNAs in New York is 85,310, which is the nation's third highest employment level for CNAs. New York is therefore a great state for CNAs not just in terms of compensation, but also in terms of job availability. The New York metropolitan area shares the nation's highest employment level in metropolitan areas for CNAs with NJ's Newark and PA's Jersey City, with the employment being 77,360. The three metropolitan areas also share the 10th position in the list of the nation's top paying metropolitan areas for CNAs.
4. District of Columbia
Annual mean salary for CNAs in District of Columbia is $47,480, or $22.83 per hour. Estimated employment for CNAs in this state is 2,550. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, which includes parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, is among the nation's metropolitan areas with the highest employment level for CNAs, with the employment being 22,840.
5. Hawaii
Annual mean CNA wage in Hawaii is $45,480, or $21.87 per hour. Estimated employment for CNAs in Hawaii is 4,620. The Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area is the nation's second highest paying nonmetropolitan area with a mean annual wage of $45,840. Among the nation's top paying metropolitan areas for CNAs are Hawaii's Kahului, Wailuku and Lahaina, with the annual mean wage being $45,850.
To complete our list of 15 top paying states for CNAs, the following information has been pulled from Salary.com, which shows the latest annual median wage as opposed to what BLS shows - annual mean wage.
6. Washington
In Washington, CNAs earn a median income of $49,960 per year.
7. New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, CNAs earn a median of $47,190 per year.
8. Minnesota
In Minnesota, CNAs earn a median wage of $45,230 per year.
9. Connecticut
The median annual salary for CNAs in Connecticut is $44,860.
10. Nevada
CNAs in Nevada earn a median wage of $44,360 per year.
11. Rhode Island
The median salary for CNAs in Rhode Island is $43,740 per year.
12. Illinois
CNAs in Illinois earn a median of $43,950 per year.
13. Maryland
CNAs in Maryland make a median of $42,070 per year.
14. Michigan
CNAs in Michigan earn a median wage of $40,210 per year.
15. Delaware
CNAs in Delaware earn a median salary of $40,120 per year.
Top 5 Metro Areas by Salary for CNAs
Finally, here's a quick rundown of the top 5 metropolitan areas for CNAs in the U.S.:
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Annual mean wage: $58,190, or $27.97 per hour
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Annual mean wage: $57,400, or $27.59 per hour
3. Salinas, CA
Annual mean pay: $48,370, or $23.26 per hour
4. Anchorage, AK
Annual mean salary: $46,680, or $22.44 per hour
5. Urban Honolulu, HI
Annual mean pay: $45,360, or $21.81 per hour
Final Thoughts
As you can see, opportunities for competitive pay and excellent job security abound for CNAs around the country, so sign up for CNA training today.
