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Top 10 Best and Worst States to be a CNA
NursingLink / CareerVoyages.gov
There is a projected need for 393,000 CNAs needed in the United States by 2016. CNAs are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? NursingLink is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a CNA based on starting salary and job openings.
Top 10 Best Paying States for CNAs
| State | Salary (hourly) |
| 1. Alaska | $14.36 |
| 2. New York | $13.63 |
| 3. Connecticut | $13.54 |
| 4. Massachusetts | $12.77 |
| 5. Hawaii | $12.53 |
| 6. District of Columbia | $12.47 |
| 7. Maryland | $12.47 |
| 8. Delaware | $12.32 |
| 9. New Hampshire | $12.24 |
| 10. Nevada | $12.23 |
racegaldonna
11 days ago
6 comments
i have to say that CNAs getting paid less than $11.00 an hour is an insult. no offense to nurses, but we do all the hard work, the caregiving and deal more with family members. I live in Arizona. when I got my license I started at 11.50 an hour. It does depend on what company you work for.
kd_aman
19 days ago
14 comments
WA state is pretty good too. I've heard of CNAs that get about 15 an hour. It depends too if you work at a hospital or nursing home - they tend to pay differently, and how long you've been working there. Oh but I guess this is tracking starting salary. As a nurse tech at a hospital I started at 15.75. I think someone was telling me they start at 13 as a CNA at the same hospital. At the nursing home I work at as a nurse tech, I get 18 an hour (was told I'd get 17 but they changed it by my first paycheck), and I heard CNAs get about 15 an hour.
Kimmie_T
about 1 month ago
44 comments
Actually, California should be at the top of the list before Alaska or the NYC. The pay for CNAs or Patient Care Assistant is in the high teens and beginning $20.00. Mainly because our cost of living is just as high as New York's and Boston. (which also was not on the list). Fact should be rechecked for accuracy next time.
JumanaMe
about 1 month ago
6 comments
How come Texas not in the list ! :(
Account Removed
2 months ago
Where in Missouri is they paying $9.40 an hour? I work as CNA in Missouri and only make $7.30 an hour.
agawan1
8 months ago
2 comments
It is a nice job.I am not yet able to get address of some institue online.Please help me in this context. Thanks
vwoods
about 1 year ago
130 comments
Kentucky should be on this list, because as a CNA, at a nursing home a couple years ago, I was making $7.34 an hour. They have recently "bumped it up" to $8.50 an hour.