Salaries for CNA’s vary by State and experience. If you have recently started training to be a certified nursing assistant, or have recently received your certification, you are probably wondering how much money you can make as a CNA. There is no easy answer to this question. The amount of money that you earn will depend on the setting in which you are employed. Your experience and any special training will also have an impact on your salary. Of course, the area where you work (such as a city versus a rural area) will have an effect on your income.
On average, a certified nursing assistant will make an annual salary of $20,000 to $30,000 per year. Overall this is not a high salary compared to many other jobs. But it is far more than minimum wage and can provide a good starting point for a career in the healthcare field. You will find that most nursing assistants who are certified earn from about $11 to $15 per hour.
Quick Tip: If you’re interested in becoming a CNA, we highly recommend reading our expert articles on How To Get Free CNA Training as well as What it’s Like to be a CNA
Your salary working as a nursing assistant will increase with the more years of experience that you have. There will often be times when you will have the opportunity to learn more skills in your career as a nursing assistant. The more you are able to specialize, the better income you will be able to receive. A willingness to learn new skills even when it is not required will help you to improve your earning potential.
If you are searching for a job as a nursing assistant, you will notice that your income can vary depending on where you will work. Search for the job opportunity that best meets what you are looking for in a job while also offering you the best income. If you prefer to work in a particular healthcare setting, you might decide to take a job with a lower income. It will depend on your financial needs and your employment preferences.
When searching for a job as a certified nursing assistant, you might find some job opportunities that offer an hourly wage but not benefits. There are opportunities to work as a CNA on a per diem basis –or on contract basis. In these instances, you might not receive benefits. Sometimes your hourly wage will be higher than average, and you will decide to work a job with no benefits. There is also the option of working as a travel CNA. You might want to read up on the Travel CNA salary scale
You might decide that income does not matter much to you. If you love working with people and helping to make a difference in the lives of those who are sick or injured, you might decide that you do not mind a modest income. If you are continuing your education for a more advanced career in the healthcare industry, the income might suit you well while you continue your training.
They do say that most people do not enter into a career as a CNA for the income but rather for a job helping people. The income is not bad when you also consider the fact that you do not need to spend an abundance of time or money for training.
Hello ,
I was just wondering what other Jobs and where else can I take my cna certifcate instead of working in a convelescence home?
Hi John, community colleges also offer CNA training.
You can use the CNA certification as a stepping stone to an advanced career in healthcare, if that’s what you meant.
John,
my CNA course was about 1.5k with roughly half being exam costs. When you go for your CNA exam, you can also take sit for your GNA, which allows you to work in nursing homes. In my area (MD) Nursing homes tend to pay more than hospitals, but our local hospital will pay for you to continue your education as long as it is a career in a health care field.
John, you can also take your CNA training at your local Vocational or Technical school (“Vo-Tech”). There are usually Vo-Tech schools locally that have CNA, HHA (Home Health Aide) or PCA (Patient Care Assistant) courses available. You can also apply for financial aid through your local school and if you qualify based on your household income, your tuition may be covered. Good luck.