Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of certified nurses’ aide salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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Hawaii continues to have the highest certified nurses’ aide salary at $48,476.
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Mississippi remains at the bottom with the lowest certified nurses’ aide salary of $25,327.
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The national average salary for certified nurses’ aides is $32,566.
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The national hourly pay for certified nurses’ aides is $15.66.
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
When considering job opportunities, salary remains a top priority for candidates across all demographics. If you’re asking yourself, “How much do certified nurses’ aides get paid where I live?” you’re not alone.
While individual salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, education, and location, there is robust data available on average salaries for certified nurses’ aides by state. These averages provide a useful benchmark for what you can expect as compensation.
As of 2026, Hawaii leads the way with the highest salary for certified nurses’ aides.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for certified nurses’ aide salaries:
Let’s take a closer look at the complete rankings of all 50 states.
Highest-Paid Certified Nurses’ Aides By State
| Rank | State | Average Certified Nurses’ Aide Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $48,476 | $40,000 | $57,000 |
| 2 | New York | $38,863 | $29,000 | $51,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $38,646 | $29,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 | Maine | $36,562 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 5 | Montana | $36,428 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 6 | Vermont | $36,428 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 7 | California | $36,417 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $36,228 | $28,000 | $46,000 |
| 9 | Washington | $35,986 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 10 | Michigan | $35,840 | $26,000 | $48,000 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $35,402 | $26,000 | $48,000 |
| 12 | Oregon | $35,146 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 13 | Illinois | $34,695 | $25,000 | $47,000 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $34,576 | $26,000 | $45,000 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $34,400 | $25,000 | $46,000 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $34,370 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $34,330 | $25,000 | $46,000 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $34,222 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 19 | Delaware | $33,952 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 20 | Nevada | $33,844 | $24,000 | $46,000 |
| 21 | Alaska | $33,237 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $32,887 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $32,783 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $32,398 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 25 | Virginia | $32,338 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $32,330 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 27 | Ohio | $31,757 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $31,733 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 29 | Maryland | $31,656 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 30 | Colorado | $31,633 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 31 | Arizona | $31,473 | $22,000 | $43,000 |
| 32 | Idaho | $31,467 | $22,000 | $43,000 |
| 33 | Utah | $31,445 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 34 | Kansas | $31,294 | $22,000 | $42,000 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $30,428 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $29,821 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 37 | Indiana | $29,388 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $28,615 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 39 | Alabama | $28,311 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 40 | Texas | $28,156 | $20,000 | $39,000 |
| 41 | Iowa | $27,943 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $27,812 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 43 | Florida | $27,424 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $27,227 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $26,603 | $19,000 | $36,000 |
| 46 | Missouri | $26,286 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 47 | Georgia | $26,202 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $26,160 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $25,593 | $18,000 | $35,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $25,327 | $18,000 | $35,000 |
Methodology: Certified Nurses’ Aide Salary By State
To better understand certified nurses’ aide pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data from various sources, including the BLS and job postings, to create a comprehensive picture of salary trends. The data science team calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to determine average pay for certified nurses’ aides by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary for certified nurses’ aides, with the state offering the highest salary listed first.
Certified Nurses’ Aide Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for certified nurses’ aides?
The highest-paid state for certified nurses’ aides is Hawaii, with an average salary of $48,476 per year.
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What city pays certified nurses’ aides the most?
Guilderland, NY offers the highest average salary for certified nurses’ aides at $39,380 per year.
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What is the worst state for certified nurses’ aides?
The state with the lowest average salary for certified nurses’ aides is Mississippi, at $25,327 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
