California Median
$47,630
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+13% vs US median
US median $42,260
State Rank
#6 of 51
110,060 employed here
How much does a Nursing Assistant make in California?
A Nursing Assistant working in California earns a median salary of $47,630 per year, or about $22.90 per hour. That is 13% above the national median of $42,260 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $40,110 while the top 10% make $61,100 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $45,850 and $54,800 a year.
Nursing Assistant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,110 | $19.28 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $45,850 | $22.04 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $47,630 | $22.90 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $54,800 | $26.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,100 | $29.38 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for Nursing Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Nursing Assistant salary in other states
Oregon $49,830Washington $49,180New York $48,590New Hampshire $47,870District of Columbia $47,700Colorado $47,380Vermont $47,130Maine $47,070New Jersey $46,830Massachusetts $46,680Minnesota $46,680Rhode Island $46,440Alaska $46,370Illinois $45,960North Dakota $45,820Nevada $45,490Hawaii $45,350Wisconsin $45,130Connecticut $44,790Arizona $44,780Pennsylvania $44,590Maryland $43,240Virginia $43,200Delaware $42,030Montana $40,900Nebraska $40,000Utah $39,840Michigan $39,570New Mexico $39,390Iowa $39,350Wyoming $39,160Ohio $39,010South Dakota $38,800Idaho $38,650North Carolina $38,460Kentucky $38,370Indiana $38,330Kansas $38,010Tennessee $37,990Georgia $37,680Missouri $37,680Florida $37,510Texas $37,500South Carolina $37,220West Virginia $36,720Oklahoma $35,930Arkansas $34,430Alabama $34,140Mississippi $31,520Louisiana $30,510
Working as a Nursing Assistant in California
Nationally, about 1,449,000 people work as Nursing Assistants in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($47,630) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nursing Assistant make in California?
The median Nursing Assistant salary in California is $47,630 per year, or about $22.90 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $40,110 at the entry level to $61,100 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Nursing Assistants about 13% more than the national median of $42,260. California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Nursing Assistants?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $47,630 a year. About 110,060 Nursing Assistants are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Nursing Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.