Post job

Licensed nursing assistant salary

Quoted expert
Jason Mott Ph.D.

Average licensed nursing assistant salary

$41,395

$19.9 hourly rate

Entry-level licensed nursing assistant salary
$30,000 yearly salary
Updated January 8, 2025

Understanding the Licensed Nursing Assistant Salary

The role of a Licensed Nursing Assistant is vital in healthcare, providing essential support to patients and nursing staff. As of October 2025, the average salary for Licensed Nursing Assistants is $41,395 per year, translating to approximately $20 per hour. However, this figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and specific healthcare facilities.

Salary Variations by State

In some states, LNAs can expect to earn much higher salaries. For instance, states like California and New York typically offer increased compensation compared to the national average. Additionally, metropolitan areas often provide better pay than rural locations. Understanding these dynamics is essential for job seekers to maximize their earning potential.

Highest Paying Cities for Licensed Nursing Assistants

Cities such as San Francisco, New York City, and Seattle consistently rank among the highest paying locations for LNAs, with salaries exceeding the national average. Researching the local job market can help prospective LNAs make informed decisions about their career paths. By aligning your job search with high-demand locations, you can enhance your financial rewards while enjoying a fulfilling career in nursing.

On this page
Licensed nursing assistant salary by: 

Let Zippi find your next licensed nursing assistant job

Floating question marks illustration

Let Zippi find your next licensed nursing assistant job

Floating question marks illustration

Where can a Licensed Nursing Assistant earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
63k
43k
23k
3k
Columbus, OH$47,925
Fargo, ND$32,944
Compare salary by company
Vs
71k
51k
31k
11k
Cornerstone VNA$57,816
Mayo Clinic$40,945

Average licensed nursing assistant salary by state

The average licensed nursing assistant salary in Hawaii, California, and Florida are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average licensed nursing assistant salary states are Montana, Vermont, and Mississippi.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for licensed nursing assistants

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Indiana$43,140$20.74
2Florida$43,825$21.07
3Michigan$42,786$20.57
4Pennsylvania$43,034$20.69
5Washington$43,700$21.01
6Tennessee$42,710$20.53
7Massachusetts$43,437$20.88
8Hawaii$65,530$31.50
9Kansas$40,283$19.37
10Ohio$41,468$19.94
11Texas$42,700$20.53
12Wisconsin$39,692$19.08
13Maryland$43,258$20.80
14Iowa$39,121$18.81
15Nevada$43,489$20.91
16Delaware$42,115$20.25
17North Carolina$39,405$18.94
18Illinois$42,344$20.36
19West Virginia$37,585$18.07
20California$46,738$22.47
21New Jersey$42,559$20.46
22Minnesota$38,745$18.63
23Oregon$41,994$20.19
24Rhode Island$38,942$18.72
25Oklahoma$38,843$18.67
26South Carolina$38,105$18.32
27Kentucky$37,052$17.81
28Colorado$39,679$19.08
29Alabama$38,054$18.30
30Connecticut$38,444$18.48
31Missouri$36,926$17.75
32Wyoming$38,147$18.34
33New Hampshire$34,542$16.61
34Maine$33,734$16.22
35South Dakota$36,426$17.51
36Idaho$36,086$17.35
37Alaska$38,422$18.47
38Louisiana$35,116$16.88
39New Mexico$36,831$17.71
40District of Columbia$40,629$19.53
41Nebraska$34,884$16.77
42Georgia$35,264$16.95
43Virginia$37,755$18.15
44Vermont$33,849$16.27
45Montana$34,059$16.37
46New York$35,573$17.10
47Arizona$34,163$16.42
48Arkansas$33,307$16.01
49Mississippi$33,770$16.24
50North Dakota$32,826$15.78
51Utah$34,846$16.75

Highest paying cities for licensed nursing assistants

The highest-paying cities for licensed nursing assistants are Union City, CA, Bradenton, FL, and Seattle, WA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Union City, CA$47,925$23.04
2Bradenton, FL$44,001$21.15
3Seattle, WA$43,834$21.07
4Franklin, IN$43,241$20.79
5Burlington, MA$43,231$20.78
6Franklin, TN$42,718$20.54
7Kalamazoo, MI$42,600$20.48
8Dover, DE$42,322$20.35
9Salem, OR$42,043$20.21
10Kettering, OH$41,241$19.83
11Olathe, KS$40,316$19.38
12Rochester, MN$38,943$18.72
13Milford, CT$38,705$18.61
14Salem, VA$36,714$17.65
15Sioux Falls, SD$36,706$17.65
16Nashua, NH$34,797$16.73
17Tempe, AZ$34,175$16.43
18Rochester, NY$33,942$16.32
19Burlington, VT$33,679$16.19
20Fargo, ND$32,944$15.84

Licensed nursing assistant salary details

A licensed nursing assistant's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $56,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average licensed nursing assistant salary graph
Average licensed nursing assistant salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a licensed nursing assistant's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$56,000$4,667$27
75th Percentile$48,000$4,000$23
Average$41,395$3,450$20
25th Percentile$35,000$2,917$17
10th Percentile$30,000$2,500$14

Highest paying licensed nursing assistant jobs

The highest paying types of licensed nursing assistants are licensed practical nurse, licensed practical nurse staff nurse, and registered nursing assistant.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
PRN$39,642$3,304$19.0672,309
Home Health Care$37,683$3,140$18.12184,582
Patient Sitter$29,649$2,471$14.25188,756
Medication Aide$40,799$3,400$19.61275,582
Certified Medical Aide$32,675$2,723$15.71235,444
Nurses' Aide$30,496$2,541$14.66157,723

How would you rate the starting salaries for licensed nursing assistants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?

Jason Mott Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pre-licensure Program Director/Assistant Dean, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

Salaries for nurses are outstanding. Also, there are many opportunities to grow and get advanced degrees, increasing the amount of money that nurses can make. There are so many opportunities to move around and advance in the profession to make nursing a perfect career choice.

Which companies pay licensed nursing assistants the most?

Licensed nursing assistant salaries at Cornerstone VNA and Constellation Health Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average licensed nursing assistant salary at companies like Life Care Centers of America and United Health Centers Of The San Joaquin Valley are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1Cornerstone VNA$57,816$27.80
2Constellation Health Services$54,098$26.01
3Life Care Centers of America$48,276$23.21
4United Health Centers Of The San Joaquin Valley$47,993$23.07
5ICONMA$45,380$21.82
6NHC$43,879$21.10
7SouthernCare$43,653$20.99
8SantaFe HealthCare$43,459$20.89
9Kindred at Home$43,422$20.88
10Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company$43,067$20.71
11VNA Home Health Hospice$42,721$20.54
12Summit Orthopedics$42,264$20.32
13The Sunshine Terrace Foundation$42,064$20.22
14Encompass Health$41,954$20.17
15Oregon Health & Science University$41,619$20.01
16The Good Samaritan Society$41,609$20.00
17Genesis HealthCare$41,568$19.98
18Cigna$41,297$19.85
19MAS Medical Staffing$40,996$19.71
20Mayo Clinic$40,945$19.69

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$45,000$44,400$43,800$43,200$42,600$42,000
MaleFemale

Licensed nursing assistant salary trends

The average licensed nursing assistant salary has risen by $6,800 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average licensed nursing assistant earned $34,595 annually, but today, they earn $41,395 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for licensed nursing assistants over the last decade.

Compare licensed nursing assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average licensed nursing assistant salary over time

Compare licensed nursing assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Licensed nursing assistant salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2025$41,400$19.90+5.0%
2024$39,300$18.91-4.5%
2023$41,100$19.76+3.6%
2022$39,600$19.05+3.4%
2021$38,300$18.41+3.3%

Recently added licensed nursing assistant salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Sanford HealthLPN or Medical Assistant-Sheldon ClinicSheldon, IA06/30/2025$39,653
Sanford HealthLPN-Windsong/Trillium Assisted Living-EveningsBemidji, MN06/30/2025$55,619
Easter Seals New HampshireLicensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)-Substance USE Treatment ServicesManchester, NH06/30/2025$43,827
Franciscan MinistriesLPN-Assisted LivingLemont, IL06/29/2025$66,784
Riverwoods ExeterLna/Mna 11P-7AManchester, NH06/29/2025$52,175
Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice Inc.Weekend Home Health Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)Barre, VT06/29/2025$39,653
RiverwoodsrcLna/Mna-Per DiemExeter, NH06/29/2025$46,958
Essentia HealthLPN or Medical Assistant-Internal Medicine -South University ClinicFargo, ND06/28/2025$44,850
Essentia HealthLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Clinical Assistant (CMA)-Brainerd Clinic Family MedicineBrainerd, MN06/28/2025$44,850
The Village of St. EdwardLPN (Nurse)-PRN II Assisted Living/Memory CareSummitville, OH06/28/2025$60,523

Licensed nursing assistant salary FAQs

Search for licensed nursing assistant jobs

Browse healthcare support jobs