Nursing Assistant salary in the U.S.
Nursing Assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $42,260 a year ($20.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,448,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,980 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $42,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nursing assistants in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| 25th percentile | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Median | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| 75th percentile | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,980 | $24.99 |
| Average (mean) | $42,700 | $20.53 |
Half of nursing assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,521.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,760.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,625.38 |
| Weekly | $812.69 |
| Hourly | $20.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nursing Assistant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 | 14,800 |
| Washington | $49,180 | 30,270 |
| New York | $48,590 | 87,990 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | 7,810 |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 | 3,490 |
| California | $47,630 | 110,060 |
| Colorado | $47,380 | 22,240 |
| Vermont | $47,130 | 3,030 |
| Maine | $47,070 | 8,540 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | 32,400 |
| Massachusetts | $46,680 | 38,130 |
| Minnesota | $46,680 | 29,120 |
| Rhode Island | $46,440 | 10,220 |
| Alaska | $46,370 | 2,060 |
| Illinois | $45,960 | 68,640 |
| North Dakota | $45,820 | 6,840 |
| Nevada | $45,490 | 8,100 |
| Hawaii | $45,350 | 5,050 |
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | 28,370 |
| Connecticut | $44,790 | 21,380 |
| Arizona | $44,780 | 20,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,590 | 67,740 |
| Maryland | $43,240 | 27,720 |
| Virginia | $43,200 | 40,580 |
| Delaware | $42,030 | 5,530 |
| Montana | $40,900 | 4,390 |
| Nebraska | $40,000 | 16,450 |
| Utah | $39,840 | 12,260 |
| Michigan | $39,570 | 43,290 |
| New Mexico | $39,390 | 4,750 |
| Iowa | $39,350 | 22,670 |
| Wyoming | $39,160 | 2,830 |
| Ohio | $39,010 | 63,280 |
| South Dakota | $38,800 | 6,860 |
| Idaho | $38,650 | 7,910 |
| North Carolina | $38,460 | 64,010 |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | 23,410 |
| Indiana | $38,330 | 33,640 |
| Kansas | $38,010 | 24,610 |
| Tennessee | $37,990 | 27,040 |
| Georgia | $37,680 | 43,440 |
| Missouri | $37,680 | 34,050 |
| Florida | $37,510 | 96,960 |
| Texas | $37,500 | 88,680 |
| Virgin Islands | $37,240 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $37,220 | 21,760 |
| West Virginia | $36,720 | 9,390 |
| Oklahoma | $35,930 | 19,410 |
| Arkansas | $34,430 | 17,260 |
| Alabama | $34,140 | 25,250 |
| Mississippi | $31,520 | 14,200 |
| Louisiana | $30,510 | 20,690 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,850 | 430 |
Best-paying metro areas for nursing assistants
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,840 | 5,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $56,080 | 11,790 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $51,990 | 16,530 |
| Napa, CA | $50,370 | 460 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $50,350 | 8,890 |
| Bend, OR | $50,080 | 620 |
| Boulder, CO | $49,860 | 1,030 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $49,770 | 420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49,270 | 79,480 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,240 | 1,250 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $49,160 | 850 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $49,110 | 10,350 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $49,020 | 500 |
| Vallejo, CA | $48,900 | 940 |
| Vineland, NJ | $48,890 | 770 |
Metro areas with the most nursing assistants
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 79,480 | $49,270 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 45,850 | $46,940 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 43,090 | $47,380 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 30,680 | $46,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 26,130 | $47,590 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 25,520 | $45,730 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 23,490 | $38,010 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 23,420 | $38,530 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 23,260 | $39,350 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 19,230 | $37,970 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 17,300 | $39,900 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 16,530 | $51,990 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 15,120 | $37,470 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 14,620 | $39,110 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 14,590 | $48,020 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Psychiatric Aide | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-1131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in the U.S.?
The median salary for nursing assistants in the U.S. is $42,260 a year, or $20.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nursing assistants make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of nursing assistants in the U.S. earn at least $51,980 a year. The top 25% earn $47,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for nursing assistants in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,940 a year, and a quarter of nursing assistants earn $37,260 or less.
How many nursing assistants work in the U.S.?
About 1,448,910 nursing assistants are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.