Healthcare Recruiting
CNA Salary by State 2026: Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Across All 50 States
CNA Salary by State 2026: Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Across All 50 States
The average certified nursing assistant (CNA) salary in 2026 is $32,000–$46,000/year nationally. Hospital CNAs and those in specialty long-term care settings earn more than home health aides, and the highest-paying states (California, Washington, Hawaii) pay CNAs $46,000–$55,000 — meaningfully above the national average. With the U.S. facing a critical shortage of direct-care nursing staff, CNAs who earn additional specialty certifications (STNA in Ohio, CENA for advanced practice) or who transition to travel CNA roles are seeing the fastest wage growth of any support-level healthcare role.
CNA Salary by Care Setting (2026)
| Setting | Avg Hourly | Avg Annual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital (Inpatient) | $18–$26/hr | $40,000–$54,000 | Highest CNA setting; union contracts at many hospitals; benefits premium |
| Long-Term Care / SNF | $15–$22/hr | $32,000–$46,000 | Most common CNA employer; high demand; sign-on bonuses common |
| Memory Care / Alzheimer's | $16–$23/hr | $34,000–$48,000 | Dementia care premium; requires behavioral de-escalation skills |
| Home Health Agency | $14–$20/hr | $28,000–$42,000 | Lowest CNA setting; no benefits at many agencies; mileage reimbursement varies |
| Rehabilitation (Inpatient) | $17–$24/hr | $36,000–$50,000 | Acute rehab post-surgical or stroke; higher acuity than SNF; higher hourly |
| Travel CNA (Agency) | Varies | $900–$1,400/wk | 13-week contracts at SNFs and hospitals; housing stipend included for qualifying tax home |
CNA Salary by State (2026) — All 50 States
| State | Avg Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $47,000 |
| Washington | $45,000 |
| Hawaii | $44,000 |
| Massachusetts | $42,000 |
| New York | $41,000 |
| Oregon | $40,000 |
| Nevada | $40,000 |
| Connecticut | $39,000 |
| New Jersey | $38,000 |
| Colorado | $38,000 |
| Minnesota | $37,000 |
| Alaska | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $37,000 |
| Maryland | $36,000 |
| Rhode Island | $37,000 |
| Illinois | $35,000 |
| Michigan | $34,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,000 |
| Ohio | $33,000 |
| Texas | $32,000 |
| Florida | $31,000 |
| Arizona | $33,000 |
| North Carolina | $32,000 |
| Virginia | $33,000 |
| Georgia | $31,000 |
| Tennessee | $30,000 |
| Indiana | $31,000 |
| Wisconsin | $33,000 |
| Missouri | $30,000 |
| South Carolina | $30,000 |
| Kentucky | $29,000 |
| Alabama | $28,000 |
| Louisiana | $28,000 |
| Arkansas | $28,000 |
| Mississippi | $27,000 |
How to Maximize Your CNA Salary
- Target hospital settings. Inpatient hospital CNAs earn $8,000–$14,000/year more than SNF CNAs. Get your foot in the door through hospital float pool or telemetry unit tech roles.
- Work nights or weekends. Night differentials ($2–$4/hr) and weekend premiums ($1.50–$3/hr) add $5,000–$10,000 annually for a full-time CNA willing to shift their schedule.
- Earn specialty certifications. STNA (State Tested Nurse Aide in Ohio), CENA (Certified Emergency Nursing Assistant at some health systems), or dementia care certifications add 5–8% and open access to higher-acuity units.
- Consider travel CNA contracts. With 12–18 months of SNF or hospital aide experience, travel CNA contracts ($900–$1,400/week) can significantly outpace staff rates in lower-wage states.
- Use CNA as a bridge to RN. Most RN bridge programs count CNA hours toward clinical requirements. Many health systems offer tuition assistance that covers most or all of RN program costs for employees. The income jump from CNA ($32K–$46K) to RN ($72K+) is the highest ROI career move in healthcare.
Data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and Ava Health placement data. Ranges reflect 25th–75th percentile of 2026 active CNA job postings by state.
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