Best cities for a certified nursing assistant
The best cities for certified nursing assistants are Toledo, OH, Fort Wayne, IN, and Cleveland, OH, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for certified nursing assistants vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for certified nursing assistants in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a certified nursing assistant or considering a move, this list of the best cities for certified nursing assistants to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for certified nursing assistants. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a certified nursing assistant. While the absolute best city for certified nursing assistants is Toledo, OH, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for certified nursing assistants in 2024.
If you're looking for a certified nursing assistant job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for certified nursing assistants in 2026
1. Toledo, OH
Certified nursing assistant jobs in ToledoTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 126 Average annual salary: $31,178 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 1.25 2. Fort Wayne, IN
Certified nursing assistant jobs in Fort WayneTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $31,609 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.82 3. Cleveland, OH
Certified nursing assistant jobs in ClevelandTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 209 Average annual salary: $31,479 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.58 4. Madison, WI
Certified nursing assistant jobs in MadisonTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 249 Average annual salary: $31,943 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.60 5. Urban Honolulu, HI
Certified nursing assistant jobs in Urban HonoluluTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 189 Average annual salary: $45,248 Lowest 10 percent warn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location quotient: 0.66 6. Pittsburgh, PA
Certified nursing assistant jobs in PittsburghTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 89 Average annual salary: $32,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location quotient: 0.50 7. Brookhaven, NY
Certified nursing assistant jobs in BrookhavenTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $35,922 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 1.89 8. Portland, OR
Certified nursing assistant jobs in PortlandTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $35,576 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location quotient: 0.67 9. Islip, NY
Certified nursing assistant jobs in IslipTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $35,776 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location quotient: 0.87 10. Albuquerque, NM
Certified nursing assistant jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal certified nursing assistant jobs: 165 Average annual salary: $31,671 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 0.54
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Best cities for certified nursing assistants
- Toledo, OH
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Cleveland, OH
- Madison, WI
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Brookhaven, NY
- Portland, OR
- Islip, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- (126 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (109 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (209 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (249 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (189 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (89 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (7 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (5 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (1 certified nursing assistant jobs)
- (165 certified nursing assistant jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a certified nursing assistant
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toledo, OH | $31,178 | $23,000 | 278,508 | 126 |
| 2 | Fort Wayne, IN | $31,609 | $23,000 | 264,488 | 109 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $31,479 | $23,000 | 385,809 | 209 |
| 4 | Madison, WI | $31,943 | $23,000 | 252,551 | 249 |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,248 | $37,000 | 351,792 | 189 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $32,324 | $23,000 | 303,625 | 89 |
| 7 | Brookhaven, NY | $35,922 | $26,000 | 486,040 | 7 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $35,576 | $26,000 | 639,863 | 5 |
| 9 | Islip, NY | $35,776 | $26,000 | 335,543 | 1 |
| 10 | Albuquerque, NM | $31,671 | $23,000 | 559,277 | 165 |
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH | $29,687 | $21,000 | 298,800 | 42 |
| 12 | Oyster Bay, NY | $35,735 | $26,000 | 293,214 | 1 |
| 13 | Hempstead, NY | $35,607 | $26,000 | 759,757 | 14 |
| 14 | Henderson, NV | $33,184 | $24,000 | 292,969 | 28 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $32,380 | $24,000 | 413,651 | 219 |
| 16 | Mesa, AZ | $31,360 | $23,000 | 484,587 | 61 |
| 17 | Wichita, KS | $29,121 | $21,000 | 389,902 | 174 |
| 18 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,570 | $24,000 | 1,567,872 | 141 |
| 19 | Tucson, AZ | $31,406 | $23,000 | 530,706 | 125 |
| 20 | Tulsa, OK | $28,894 | $21,000 | 403,090 | 180 |
| 21 | Saint Paul, MN | $32,385 | $24,000 | 302,398 | 203 |
| 22 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,788 | $22,000 | 855,164 | 113 |
| 23 | North Las Vegas, NV | $33,166 | $24,000 | 238,702 | 9 |
| 24 | Omaha, NE | $29,712 | $22,000 | 446,970 | 18 |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | $27,956 | $20,000 | 242,203 | 80 |
| 26 | Stockton, CA | $34,557 | $25,000 | 307,072 | 68 |
| 27 | Lexington, KY | $29,253 | $21,000 | 318,449 | 58 |
| 28 | Louisville, KY | $29,221 | $21,000 | 597,337 | 173 |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $33,229 | $24,000 | 632,912 | 171 |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $28,556 | $20,000 | 683,080 | 71 |
| 31 | Reno, NV | $34,004 | $25,000 | 245,255 | 43 |
| 32 | Milwaukee, WI | $32,174 | $23,000 | 595,047 | 128 |
| 33 | Lincoln, NE | $29,591 | $22,000 | 280,364 | 121 |
| 34 | Scottsdale, AZ | $31,343 | $23,000 | 246,645 | 87 |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $34,222 | $25,000 | 522,053 | 75 |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $35,448 | $26,000 | 281,764 | 92 |
| 37 | Detroit, MI | $31,657 | $23,000 | 672,795 | 112 |
| 38 | Greensboro, NC | $27,980 | $20,000 | 287,027 | 81 |
| 39 | Lubbock, TX | $27,423 | $20,000 | 252,506 | 56 |
| 40 | Glendale, AZ | $31,446 | $23,000 | 245,895 | 18 |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | $30,379 | $22,000 | 860,090 | 12 |
| 42 | Buffalo, NY | $35,385 | $26,000 | 256,902 | 81 |
| 43 | Colorado Springs, CO | $30,541 | $22,000 | 465,101 | 33 |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $42,800 | $35,000 | 298,192 | 23 |
| 45 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $27,532 | $19,000 | 260,999 | 152 |
| 46 | Kansas City, MO | $29,284 | $21,000 | 481,420 | 193 |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $27,811 | $20,000 | 660,388 | 207 |
| 48 | Virginia Beach, VA | $30,856 | $22,000 | 452,602 | 79 |
| 49 | Bakersfield, CA | $34,134 | $25,000 | 376,380 | 45 |
| 50 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,417 | $23,000 | 1,615,017 | 95 |
Highest paying cities for certified nursing assistants
| Rank | City | Avg. certified nursing assistant salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $38,636 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $36,947 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $36,534 |
| 4 | Eugene, OR | $35,701 |
| 5 | Providence, RI | $35,547 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $35,528 |
| 7 | Wallingford, CT | $34,310 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $34,015 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,570 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $33,229 |
| 11 | Saint Paul, MN | $32,385 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $32,174 |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | $31,671 |
| 14 | Detroit, MI | $31,657 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $31,580 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $31,479 |
| 17 | Glendale, AZ | $31,446 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $31,344 |
| 19 | Charlottesville, VA | $30,954 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $30,788 |
Certified nursing assistant best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025