CNA Salary 2026: Hourly Pay, State-Wise Wages & Benefits

A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the United States earns a median salary of $42,260 per year, or about $20.32 per hour, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) wage data. Actual pay swings widely by state and workplace, ranging from under $31,000 in the lowest-paying states to nearly $49,000 in the highest.

If you are thinking about entering healthcare, this guide breaks down CNA pay in 2026: national averages, hourly and annual figures, state-by-state wages, how pay differs between hospitals and nursing homes, what entry-level aides earn versus experienced ones, and what it takes to become a CNA.

CNA Salary Snapshot 2026

The figures below come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2025, the most recent federal dataset, published in 2026. Because actual 2026 wages trend slightly higher as facilities keep competing for aides, treat these as a solid floor rather than a ceiling.

Pay Measure	Amount (USD)
Median annual salary (full-time)	$42,260
Median hourly wage	$20.32
Median monthly pay	$3,522
Median biweekly paycheck	$1,626
25th percentile (annual)	$37,260
75th percentile (annual)	$47,220
Top 10% earn above	$51,980
Bottom 10% earn below	$33,940

Job-posting datasets land in the same neighborhood. Indeed reports a national average of $20.53 per hour for nursing assistants based on more than 240,000 posted salaries, while staffing platform data puts typical pay between $16 and $20 per hour depending on region. The median is the most useful number: half of all CNAs earn more than $42,260 and half earn less.

CNA Hourly Pay vs Annual Salary

CNAs are almost always paid by the hour, so the annual salary is simply the hourly wage multiplied by hours worked. That means your schedule shapes your income as much as your pay rate.

At the median rate of $20.32 per hour, a standard 40-hour week comes to about $3,522 a month, or $42,260 a year before taxes. CNAs working three 12-hour shifts a week, a common hospital schedule, earn about $38,040 a year at the median rate, while overtime is paid at $30.48 per hour under federal rules.

Real take-home pay usually exceeds the base wage. Night and weekend shift differentials, holiday premiums, and overtime can add thousands of dollars a year, especially in short-staffed facilities. Many aides also pick up per diem shifts or work through staffing agencies at higher rates. If you are comparing entry-level healthcare roles, note how CNA pay compares with phlebotomist salary figures, since many aides cross-train into phlebotomy later in their careers.

CNA Salary by State 2026

Where you work is the single biggest factor in CNA pay. BLS state data shows the median wage running from roughly $30,500 in Louisiana to about $48,400 in Oregon, a spread of nearly $18,000 a year.

Highest Paying States for CNAs

The table below uses BLS median annual wages by state (May 2025 dataset). The Pacific Northwest and the Northeast dominate the top of the list, driven by high demand, strong staffing standards, and higher costs of living.

State	Median Annual Wage
Oregon	$48,390
Washington	$48,260
New York	$47,390
District of Columbia	$46,860
California	$46,420
New Hampshire	$46,050
Alaska	$45,840
Maine	$45,640
Minnesota	$45,580
Massachusetts	$45,410

Mean (average) wages run even higher in these states, since a few top earners pull the average up. By mean pay, Washington leads at $52,230 a year ($25.11 per hour), followed by Oregon at $52,160 and California at $50,190. Metro areas like San Francisco, Seattle, and New York City pay above their state averages, with hourly rates above $25 in some markets.

Lowest Paying States for CNAs

The lowest mean wages cluster in the South, where a lower cost of living keeps nominal pay down. Louisiana and Mississippi sit at the bottom at roughly $31,700 and $31,750 a year, followed by Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Before ruling these states out, adjust for living costs: a $34,000 salary in Mississippi can stretch further than a $48,000 salary in Seattle once rent and taxes are factored in.

CNA Pay by Work Setting: Hospital vs Nursing Home vs Home Health

Your employer matters almost as much as your state. BLS industry data for the largest CNA employers shows meaningful gaps between settings.

Work Setting	Average Annual Wage	Notes
Federal government facilities	$52,830	VA hospitals and military facilities; highest steady pay
Staffing agencies (employment services)	$46,770	Flexible contracts, variable hours
Specialty hospitals	$44,010	Rehab and surgical centers
General hospitals	$42,120	Largest acute-care employer of CNAs
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing)	$40,650	Employs the most CNAs nationwide
Assisted living communities	$39,660	Lighter clinical demands
Home health care	$37,810	One-on-one care in patient homes

Hospitals tend to pay more because the work is faster paced and involves higher-acuity patients. Nursing homes employ the largest share of CNAs, nearly half a million nationally, but pay a bit less on average. Home health pays the least of the major settings, though aides who value flexible schedules and one-on-one relationships often prefer it. Staffing agency and travel assignments sit above all of these: travel CNAs routinely earn $25 to $40 per hour plus housing stipends, though the work means constant relocation.

Entry-Level vs Experienced CNA Salary

CNA pay rises steadily with experience, and the climb is one of the more reliable parts of this career. Typical hourly bands look like this:

• Entry-level (0 to 2 years): $15 to $17.50 per hour, or roughly $31,000 to $36,000 a year. New graduates start near the 25th percentile in most markets.
• Mid-career (2 to 5 years): $17 to $22 per hour, or roughly $35,000 to $46,000 a year. This is where most working CNAs sit.
• Experienced (5+ years): $22 to $28 per hour, or roughly $46,000 to $58,000 a year in strong markets. Senior aides with specialty skills, such as dementia care or rehabilitation support, reach the top of the scale.
• Travel and contract CNAs: $25 to $40 per hour plus tax-free housing stipends, translating to $52,000 to $78,000 a year for full schedules.

Experience also unlocks the career ladder. Many CNAs use their bedside experience as a stepping stone to licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN) programs, where salaries roughly double or triple. Others specialize in areas like hospice, mental health, or phlebotomy, which typically pay above general CNA rates. Our guide to phlebotomist salary in the US is a useful comparison if you are weighing which specialty to train for next.

How to Become a CNA (Brief Overview)

One reason CNA roles stay in demand is how fast the training is. Most state-approved programs take 4 to 12 weeks and cost between $300 and $1,500, with many nursing homes and community colleges offering free training in exchange for a work commitment.

The standard path has three steps: complete a state-approved training program (usually 75 to 180 hours of classroom and clinical instruction, depending on the state), pass the state competency exam (a written or oral test plus a hands-on skills demonstration), and register on your state’s nurse aide registry. Once certified, you can start applying immediately. Some states let nursing students or military medics challenge the exam without repeating full training, so check your state board’s rules if you have prior healthcare experience.

FAQs About CNA Salary

How much does a CNA make per hour in 2026?

The median CNA hourly wage is $20.32, based on the latest BLS data. Entry-level aides typically earn $15 to $17.50 per hour, experienced CNAs in strong markets earn $22 to $28 per hour, and travel assignments can reach $25 to $40 per hour.

How much does a CNA make a year?

The national median annual CNA salary is $42,260 for full-time work. The middle 50% of CNAs earn between $37,260 and $47,220 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $51,980.

Which state pays CNAs the most?

Oregon and Washington pay CNAs the most, with median annual wages near $48,000, or mean wages above $52,000. California, New York, Alaska, and the District of Columbia round out the top tier.

Do hospitals pay CNAs more than nursing homes?

Yes, on average. General hospitals pay about $42,120 a year on average versus $40,650 in nursing care facilities, and specialty hospitals reach about $44,010. Federal government facilities pay the most of all, averaging $52,830.

Can CNAs earn overtime pay?

Yes. CNAs are non-exempt under federal labor law, so hours beyond 40 per week must be paid at 1.5 times the regular rate. At the median wage, overtime pays $30.48 per hour, and shift differentials for nights and weekends add on top of that.

Is CNA a good career in 2026?

Demand remains strong. The BLS projects about 73,000 CNA job openings a year through 2034, driven by an aging population and steady turnover in long-term care. Pay has risen every year since 2019, and the short training period makes it one of the fastest routes into healthcare.

Conclusion

CNA pay in 2026 centers on $42,260 a year, but that single number hides real opportunity. Aides in high-paying states, hospital settings, or travel assignments can earn $48,000 to $78,000, while differentials and overtime push actual take-home above the base rate. With training measured in weeks rather than years, CNA work remains one of the most accessible doors into the US healthcare system, and the wage trend has pointed upward for six straight years. If patient care interests you, the numbers make a reasonable case for getting certified.