Certified Nursing Assistant Salary

The salary of a certified nursing assistant (CNA) depends on two factors: location and experience. If you’re working in New York, Alaska, and Nevada, you can expect to earn the premium rates as a CNA, because these are 3 of the top paying locations in the US.

Your experience and special skills gained during the years as a CNA will also have an impact on your income. Certified nursing assistants with more extensive training, seminars, and certifications on their resumes will get additional value to their respective paychecks in many cases.

Average Certified Nursing Assistant Salary

The average range of the certified nursing assistant salary starts at $20,000 and can go as much as $30,000 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Skills and experience will, of course, come into play when benchmarking how much exactly you’ll earn per hour.

On the first year in the profession, CNAs can expect to earn an average of $10 per hour, and can go up to over $12 per hour. While the more skilled and experienced, or commonly considered as top nursing assistants in the business, the rate per hour is around $15.

Is there Any Other Way to Earn Additional Income?

Just like in other professions, certified nursing assistants pull in more income by working double shifts. Some of them work a second job elsewhere. Others work 6 or 7 days a week in elderly care facilities. Still others who work for a private healthcare agency can expect a relatively higher wage.

CNAs can get some increase in their salary once they pass the one-year mark. Some hospitals and nursing facilities also offer additional income to their certified nursing aides due to their shifting rotation.

Finally, if you seek for a better certified nursing assistant salary, it will be wise to choose your location wisely, where you start your career and always consider getting a CNA continuing education.