Certified Nursing Assistant Salary By State: Highest-Paid Certified Nursing Assistants by State [2026]
Research Summary. Following comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the latest insights on certified nursing assistant salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Hawaii offers the highest average salary for certified nursing assistants at $45,187
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Mississippi has the lowest average salary for certified nursing assistants, at $25,164
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The national average salary for certified nursing assistants is $32,597
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The national hourly wage for certified nursing assistants is $15.67
For further details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
Consistently, surveys reveal that salary remains the primary concern for job seekers across all demographics. Many individuals ask: what are the earnings for certified nursing assistants in my area?
While individual salaries can vary based on numerous factors, comprehensive data exists on average salaries for certified nursing assistants by state, segmented by experience level. Although your specific city may present variations from the state average, these figures provide a valuable benchmark for expected earnings.
A notable highlight is that Hawaii ranks as the state with the highest average salary for certified nursing assistants.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for certified nursing assistant salaries:
Let’s delve into the data and examine a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Certified Nursing Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Certified Nursing Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $45,187 | $37,000 | $54,000 |
| 2 | Alaska | $42,735 | $35,000 | $51,000 |
| 3 | Vermont | $40,762 | $30,000 | $54,000 |
| 4 | Maine | $38,575 | $29,000 | $50,000 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $37,696 | $28,000 | $50,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $36,900 | $27,000 | $49,000 |
| 7 | Washington | $36,232 | $27,000 | $47,000 |
| 8 | Oregon | $35,586 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 9 | New York | $35,584 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,490 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $35,230 | $26,000 | $47,000 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $34,189 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 13 | California | $34,156 | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| 14 | Delaware | $33,587 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $33,411 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 16 | Nevada | $33,337 | $24,000 | $44,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $32,324 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $32,207 | $24,000 | $43,000 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $32,143 | $24,000 | $42,000 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $31,858 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $31,749 | $23,000 | $43,000 |
| 22 | Michigan | $31,632 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 23 | Illinois | $31,442 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 24 | Arizona | $31,418 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 25 | Maryland | $31,174 | $23,000 | $42,000 |
| 26 | Montana | $31,162 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 27 | Virginia | $30,998 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 28 | Indiana | $30,924 | $23,000 | $41,000 |
| 29 | Idaho | $30,836 | $23,000 | $40,000 |
| 30 | Ohio | $30,710 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 31 | Colorado | $30,603 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 32 | Utah | $30,522 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $29,933 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $29,669 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 35 | Iowa | $29,614 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 36 | Kansas | $29,224 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $29,208 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | Missouri | $29,187 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $29,142 | $21,000 | $39,000 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $28,851 | $21,000 | $38,000 |
| 41 | Alabama | $27,943 | $20,000 | $38,000 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $27,842 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $27,747 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 44 | Florida | $27,476 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 45 | Texas | $27,265 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $26,863 | $19,000 | $36,000 |
| 47 | Georgia | $26,394 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $25,978 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $25,719 | $18,000 | $35,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $25,164 | $18,000 | $34,000 |
Methodology: Certified Nursing Assistant Salary By State
To accurately reflect the pay of certified nursing assistants by state, Zippia has gathered data from diverse sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Certification (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). We complement this information with real-time salary data from job listings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average from these sources to derive the average salaries for certified nursing assistants by state.
The annual salary data for certified nursing assistants was compiled based on these estimates, allowing us to rank each state according to the average earnings of certified nursing assistants.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for certified nursing assistants?
The highest-paid state for certified nursing assistants is Hawaii, with an average salary of $45,187 per year.
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What city pays certified nursing assistants the most?
Portland, ME offers the highest salary for certified nursing assistants, averaging $38,636 annually.
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What is the worst state for certified nursing assistants?
The lowest-paying state for certified nursing assistants is Mississippi, with an average salary of $25,164 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.
