Median Salary
$42,260
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$20.32
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$51,980
entry level starts ~$33,940
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 1,449,000 employed
How much does a Nursing Assistant make?
A Nursing Assistant earns a median annual salary of $42,260 in the United States, which works out to roughly $20.32 per hour for full-time work. Most Nursing Assistants earn between $33,940 at the entry level and $51,980 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $37,260 and $47,220 a year.
That is $19,130 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Nursing Assistant salary range by percentile
Half of all Nursing Assistants earn between $37,260 and $47,220 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,940 | $16.32 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,260 | $17.91 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $42,260 | $20.32 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $47,220 | $22.70 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,980 | $24.99 |
|
Highest-paying states for Nursing Assistant
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Oregon leads the country for Nursing Assistant pay at $49,830 a year, followed by Washington ($49,180) and New York ($48,590). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $30,510 — a gap of $19,320 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Nursing Assistant salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Oregon $49,830Washington $49,180New York $48,590New Hampshire $47,870District of Columbia $47,700California $47,630Colorado $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
Workforce and education
About 1,449,000 people work as Nursing Assistants in the United States. On qualifications: a certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nursing Assistant make in the United States?
The median Nursing Assistant salary in the United States is $42,260 per year, or about $20.32 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $33,940, while the top 10% of earners make $51,980 or more.
How does Nursing Assistant pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Nursing Assistant median of $42,260 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Nursing Assistants the most?
Oregon is the highest-paying state for Nursing Assistants, with a median salary of $49,830 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Nursing Assistant?
Becoming a Nursing Assistant typically requires 6 to 18 months of training. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
How many Nursing Assistants work in the United States?
About 1,449,000 people were employed as Nursing Assistants in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.