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Nursing Assistant Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Nursing assistants provide the most direct daily patient care, and their hourly pay varies noticeably by state. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows hourly, monthly and yearly wages.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Nursing Assistant pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $25.11 | $4,353 | $52,230 |
| Oregon | $25.08 | $4,347 | $52,160 |
| California | $24.13 | $4,183 | $50,190 |
| New Hampshire | $23.70 | $4,108 | $49,290 |
| Alaska | $23.52 | $4,077 | $48,920 |
| New York | $23.46 | $4,067 | $48,800 |
| District of Columbia | $23.04 | $3,994 | $47,930 |
| Massachusetts | $22.93 | $3,975 | $47,700 |
| Maine | $22.84 | $3,959 | $47,510 |
| Colorado | $22.79 | $3,950 | $47,400 |
| Vermont | $22.52 | $3,904 | $46,850 |
| New Jersey | $22.50 | $3,901 | $46,810 |
| Rhode Island | $22.29 | $3,863 | $46,360 |
| Minnesota | $22.13 | $3,836 | $46,030 |
| Hawaii | $21.98 | $3,809 | $45,710 |
| Connecticut | $21.85 | $3,787 | $45,440 |
| Illinois | $21.75 | $3,769 | $45,230 |
| Nevada | $21.59 | $3,742 | $44,900 |
| Arizona | $21.55 | $3,735 | $44,820 |
| Wisconsin | $21.44 | $3,717 | $44,600 |
| Pennsylvania | $21.14 | $3,663 | $43,960 |
| North Dakota | $20.83 | $3,611 | $43,330 |
| Maryland | $20.82 | $3,609 | $43,310 |
| Montana | $20.75 | $3,597 | $43,160 |
| Nebraska | $20.38 | $3,533 | $42,390 |
| Delaware | $20.33 | $3,524 | $42,290 |
| Virginia | $20.27 | $3,513 | $42,160 |
| Iowa | $19.95 | $3,458 | $41,490 |
| Michigan | $19.95 | $3,458 | $41,490 |
| Wyoming | $19.94 | $3,456 | $41,470 |
| New Mexico | $19.90 | $3,450 | $41,400 |
| Ohio | $19.48 | $3,377 | $40,520 |
| Utah | $19.45 | $3,371 | $40,450 |
| Indiana | $19.33 | $3,350 | $40,200 |
| Kansas | $19.10 | $3,311 | $39,730 |
| South Dakota | $19.00 | $3,293 | $39,510 |
| North Carolina | $18.89 | $3,273 | $39,280 |
| Kentucky | $18.83 | $3,264 | $39,170 |
| Florida | $18.83 | $3,263 | $39,160 |
| Idaho | $18.80 | $3,258 | $39,100 |
| Texas | $18.65 | $3,232 | $38,780 |
| Georgia | $18.64 | $3,230 | $38,760 |
| Missouri | $18.47 | $3,201 | $38,410 |
| Tennessee | $18.38 | $3,186 | $38,230 |
| West Virginia | $18.02 | $3,124 | $37,490 |
| South Carolina | $17.98 | $3,116 | $37,390 |
| Oklahoma | $17.27 | $2,993 | $35,920 |
| Arkansas | $16.33 | $2,831 | $33,970 |
| Alabama | $16.19 | $2,806 | $33,670 |
| Mississippi | $15.81 | $2,741 | $32,890 |
| Louisiana | $15.51 | $2,688 | $32,250 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are Washington, Oregon, California, New Hampshire, Alaska. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- Washington — $52,230 a year
- Oregon — $52,160 a year
- California — $50,190 a year
- New Hampshire — $49,290 a year
- Alaska — $48,920 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays nursing assistants the most?
The table above ranks every published state and Washington currently leads, though cost of living changes the picture.
What is the average nursing assistant salary?
The U.S. mean nursing assistant wage is about $42,700 a year (about $20.53 per hour) in the latest BLS OEWS release, with a median near $42,260.
Is this a stepping stone to nursing?
Many CNAs use the role as a paid entry point into LPN or RN programs — the pay table shows where entry wages are strongest.
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