Nursing assistant employment is barely projected to grow over the next decade — just 2 percent through 2034, slower than the average for all US occupations. That flat growth number sounds discouraging until you look at the openings figure sitting right next to it: roughly 211,800 positions become available every single year, almost entirely from turnover and retirements. Few occupations illustrate the difference between “growing” and “in demand” as clearly as nursing assistants do right now.
Here’s what the current federal data shows about CNA pay, and why this role continues to function as one of healthcare’s most reliable entry points despite modest wages.
Nursing Assistant Salary Overview
| Metric | Figure |
| National median annual wage | $39,530 |
| National median hourly wage | $18.96 |
| Lowest 10 percent earn | Under $30,020 |
| Highest 10 percent earn | Over $48,780 |
| Total employed nursing assistants and orderlies | ~1,495,400 |
| Projected job growth (2024–2034) | 2% (slower than average) |
| Annual job openings projected | ~211,800 |
| Typical entry-level education | State-approved training program + competency exam |
Figures reflect the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2024, the most recent official release available.
Why Flat Growth Doesn’t Mean Weak Demand
It’s worth sitting with this distinction directly, since it trips up a lot of people evaluating the career. The BLS projects almost no net increase in the total number of nursing assistant jobs over the next decade — but that’s a very different statement from “there won’t be openings.” The overwhelming majority of the roughly 212,000 annual openings come from replacing workers who leave the occupation entirely, whether through retirement, burnout, or moving into other roles like LPN or RN. Turnover in this field is historically high, particularly in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, which means new CNAs entering the workforce right now face a genuinely favorable hiring environment even though the occupation as a whole isn’t expanding.
What Actually Moves a CNA’s Paycheck
Work setting creates one of the clearest pay splits in the field. Hospitals consistently pay CNAs a higher median wage than skilled nursing facilities or assisted living communities, though hospital positions can also be more competitive to land, particularly for newly certified assistants without prior experience.
Location drives a meaningful gap, more than people often expect for an entry-level role. Oregon and Washington currently post the highest state-level pay for nursing assistants, with mean wages approaching $50,000, while several Southern states sit closer to $30,000. Metro areas amplify this further — CNAs in high-cost cities like San Jose report medians well above the national figure, though cost of living eats into much of that advantage.
Experience adds up gradually rather than dramatically. CNAs with five or more years in the field typically earn several thousand dollars more annually than brand-new hires, particularly once they move into hospital settings, pick up consistent shift differentials, or add specialized bedside skills that make them more valuable to schedule.
Shift and schedule flexibility genuinely affects take-home pay. Nursing assistants willing to work nights, weekends, or pick up per diem and travel assignments in high-demand markets can meaningfully boost their effective earnings beyond the base hourly rate, particularly given how persistent staffing shortages remain in long-term care settings.
Why So Many CNAs Use This Role as a Stepping Stone
Perhaps more than any other entry-level healthcare role, nursing assistant work functions as a genuine launching pad rather than a final destination for a large share of the people who enter it. The hands-on patient care experience gained as a CNA translates directly and favorably into applications for LPN and RN programs, and many nursing schools specifically value that clinical exposure when evaluating candidates. The pay jump from CNA to LPN is substantial — roughly $23,000 more at the national median — and the jump to RN is larger still. For CNAs planning to stay in healthcare long-term, this progression is often the single most effective way to meaningfully change their earning trajectory.
The Trade-Off Between Nursing Homes and Newer Care Settings
Most CNAs currently work in nursing and residential care facilities, which continue to face real financial pressure that can constrain hiring or, in some cases, lead facilities to reduce staff or close entirely. At the same time, growth in home- and community-based care settings is expected to open up new opportunities as more patients and policy shifts favor care outside of traditional nursing homes. For CNAs weighing where to build a career, this shift toward home health and community-based settings is worth watching closely over the coming years, since it may end up offering more stability than the traditional nursing home setting currently does.
Is Becoming a CNA Still a Smart Entry Point Into Healthcare?
Given how short and affordable CNA training programs typically are compared to almost any other healthcare credential, this remains one of the fastest ways to start earning in the field while deciding whether to pursue further nursing education. The pay itself sits below the national median for all occupations, which is worth being clear-eyed about, but the role’s real value for many people lies less in the CNA salary itself and more in what it opens up next.
FAQs
Q1. Is it worth becoming a CNA if my real goal is eventually becoming an RN?
Generally yes — hands-on CNA experience is frequently valued by nursing schools during admissions, and working while you plan your next educational step helps offset the cost of further training. Many CNAs specifically use the role this way, treating it as a paid stepping stone rather than a long-term career destination.
Q2. Why do nursing homes seem to have constant CNA job openings even though the overall occupation isn’t growing much?
Turnover in nursing and residential care facilities is historically high, driven by physically demanding work, lower relative pay, and burnout, which means facilities are frequently replacing departing staff rather than adding net-new positions. This creates a steady stream of openings even in an occupation with essentially flat overall growth projected over the next decade.
Q3. Does working in a hospital really pay more than a nursing home, and is it harder to get hired there as a new CNA?
Hospitals do consistently report a higher median wage than nursing homes or assisted living facilities, but hospital CNA positions can also be more competitive, since these employers sometimes prefer candidates with some prior experience. Many CNAs start in a nursing home or assisted living setting to build experience before transitioning into a hospital role.
Q4. How much does picking up night or weekend shifts actually change a CNA’s annual income?
It can add up meaningfully over a year, since many facilities offer shift differentials specifically because nights and weekends are harder to staff. Combined with per diem or travel CNA opportunities in high-demand markets, a nursing assistant willing to work less popular shifts can often out-earn the median by a real, noticeable margin.