Certified nursing assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Certified nursing assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates certified nursing assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our certified nursing assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about certified nursing assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 997,871 certified nursing assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 87.7% of all certified nursing assistants are women, while 12.3% are men.
- The average certified nursing assistant age is 41 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of certified nursing assistants is White (62.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.5%), Black or African American (9.3%) and Asian (7.8%).
- Certified nursing assistants are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The health care industry is the highest-paying for certified nursing assistants.
- Portland, ME pays an annual average wage of $38,636, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women certified nursing assistants earned 96% of what men earned.
- 7% of all certified nursing assistants are LGBT.
- Maine is the best state for certified nursing assistants to live.
- Certified nursing assistants are 90% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Certified nursing assistant demographics by:
Certified nursing assistant gender statistics
87.7% of certified nursing assistants are women and 12.3% of certified nursing assistants are men.
- Female, 87.7%
- Male, 12.3%
Certified nursing assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 87.7% |
| Male | 12.3% |
Certified nursing assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$34,716
Female income
$33,427
Certified nursing assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in certified nursing assistant positions over time. Currently, 87.7% of certified nursing assistants are female.
Certified nursing assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 13.03% | 86.97% |
| 2011 | 13.94% | 86.06% |
| 2012 | 14.68% | 85.32% |
| 2013 | 15.33% | 84.67% |
| 2014 | 13.03% | 86.97% |
| 2015 | 13.38% | 86.62% |
| 2016 | 13.36% | 86.64% |
| 2017 | 13.49% | 86.51% |
| 2018 | 12.33% | 87.67% |
| 2019 | 11.64% | 88.36% |
| 2020 | 11.35% | 88.65% |
| 2021 | 12.34% | 87.66% |
Certified nursing assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared certified nursing assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, medical orderly and surgical orderly have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Hospice Aide | 9% | 91% |
| Patient Care Technician/Certified Nursing Assistant | 10% | 90% |
| Licensed Nursing Assistant | 10% | 90% |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 12% | 88% |
| Corpsman | 80% | 20% |
| Surgical Orderly | 82% | 18% |
| Medical Orderly | 89% | 11% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Certified nursing assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among certified nursing assistants is White, which makes up 62.7% of all certified nursing assistants. Comparatively, 14.5% of certified nursing assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 9.3% of certified nursing assistants are Black or African American.
- White, 62.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.5%
- Black or African American, 9.3%
- Asian, 7.8%
- Unknown, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Certified nursing assistant race
| Certified nursing assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 62.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.5% |
| Black or African American | 9.3% |
| Asian | 7.8% |
| Unknown | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Certified nursing assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how certified nursing assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Certified nursing assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.89% | 11.02% | 5.90% | 13.41% |
| 2011 | 65.71% | 11.90% | 6.00% | 13.25% |
| 2012 | 65.80% | 11.11% | 6.16% | 13.77% |
| 2013 | 66.46% | 10.39% | 6.28% | 13.71% |
| 2014 | 64.10% | 11.92% | 6.52% | 14.17% |
| 2015 | 63.97% | 11.42% | 6.79% | 14.65% |
| 2016 | 63.13% | 11.46% | 6.78% | 15.19% |
| 2017 | 63.52% | 10.39% | 6.89% | 15.48% |
| 2018 | 67.30% | 8.23% | 7.22% | 14.09% |
| 2019 | 66.48% | 9.09% | 7.19% | 13.94% |
| 2020 | 64.98% | 7.53% | 7.65% | 14.12% |
| 2021 | 62.73% | 9.28% | 7.76% | 14.51% |
Certified nursing assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian certified nursing assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White certified nursing assistants have the lowest average salary at $34,086.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $34,236 |
| White | $34,086 |
| Black or African American | $34,575 |
| Asian | $36,296 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $34,430 |
Average certified nursing assistant age
See how the average age of certified nursing assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Certified nursing assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 45 |
| Unknown | 35.5 | 38 |
| Asian | 43 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37 | 39 |
| White | 32 | 39 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 36 |
Certified nursing assistant age breakdown
The average age of certified nursing assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 53% of the certified nursing assistant population.
Certified nursing assistant age breakdown
| Certified Nursing Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 53% |
| 30-40 years | 22% |
| 20-30 years | 23% |
Certified nursing assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for certified nursing assistants is high school diploma, with 29% of certified nursing assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 16%.
- High School Diploma, 29%
- Associate, 19%
- Bachelor's, 16%
- Diploma, 10%
- Other Degrees, 26%
Certified nursing assistants by degree level
| Certified nursing assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 29% |
| Associate | 19% |
| Bachelor's | 16% |
| Diploma | 10% |
| Other Degrees | 26% |
Certified nursing assistant jobs you might like
Certified nursing assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, certified nursing assistants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $36,908 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, certified nursing assistants earn a median annual income of $35,711 compared to $34,614 for certified nursing assistants with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $36,908 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $33,860 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $35,711 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $34,614 |
Certified nursing assistant employment statistics
Most certified nursing assistants work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where certified nursing assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where certified nursing assistants work.
Certified nursing assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 22% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 24% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Certified nursing assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the certified nursing assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most certified nursing assistants prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Certified nursing assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 7% |
| Private | 90% |
| Government | 2% |
Certified nursing assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for certified nursing assistants are health care, professional and manufacturing.
Certified nursing assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 74% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Government | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Education | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
Certified nursing assistant turnover and employment statistics
Certified nursing assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for certified nursing assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Certified nursing assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Certified nursing assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.70% |
| 2011 | 8.87% |
| 2012 | 7.91% |
| 2013 | 7.47% |
| 2014 | 6.57% |
| 2015 | 5.67% |
| 2016 | 4.90% |
| 2017 | 4.21% |
| 2018 | 3.63% |
| 2019 | 3.40% |
| 2020 | 4.16% |
| 2021 | 5.25% |
Average certified nursing assistant tenure
The average certified nursing assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 753,106 certified nursing assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Certified nursing assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 5% |
Certified nursing assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of certified nursing assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Kennel Assistant | 3.36% | 111,321 |
| Phlebotomist | 5.28% | 11,707 |
| Nurse's Companion | 6.05% | 27,402 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 7.07% | - |
| Therapy Aide | 7.18% | 50,598 |
| Sterile Technician | 7.30% | 30,250 |
| Psychiatric Nursing Aide | 10.58% | 86,208 |
Similar certified nursing assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Kennel Assistant | 3.36% | 111,321 |
| Phlebotomist | 5.28% | 11,707 |
| Nurse's Companion | 6.05% | 27,402 |
| Therapy Aide | 7.18% | 50,598 |
| Sterile Technician | 7.30% | 30,250 |
| Psychiatric Nursing Aide | 10.58% | 86,208 |
Foreign languages spoken by certified nursing assistants
The most common foreign language among certified nursing assistants is Spanish at 71.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 9.1% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 2.8%.
- Spanish, 71.0%
- French, 9.1%
- Portuguese, 2.8%
- Tagalog, 2.0%
- Russian, 1.9%
- Other, 13.2%
Certified nursing assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 71.0% |
| French | 9.1% |
| Portuguese | 2.8% |
| Tagalog | 2.0% |
| Russian | 1.9% |
| Other | 13.2% |
