Certified Nurse Assistant Salary Rates
According to 2011 data from PayScale.com, salaries for a certified nurse assistant (CNA) range from $18,000 to $35,000 or more, depending where you live and work. A starting hourly rate for a CNA is generally between $9 to $12 per hour. The longer you work in the field, the more you earn. CNAs with less than a year’s experience earn $9 to $11 per hour; CNAs with 10 years’ experience earn $10 to $13 per hour; CNA’s with 20 years or more of experience can earn $15 or more per hour.
CNAs work in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and mental health facilities, as well as private homes. The salary for a certified nurse assistant can vary depending on where he or she works and the type of care he or she provides. According to Indeed.com, the average salary of a CNA working at a correctional facility is $26,000; the average salary of a CNA specializing in long-term care is $37,000; the average salary of a CNA working in a hospital is $33,000.
As already stated, CNA salaries also vary from state to state. The salary of a CNA working in California and New York is $21,000 to $36,000; the salary for a CNA working in Florida is $20,000 to $33,000; the salary for a CNA working in Texas is $19,000 to $30,000; and a CNA working in the state of Georgia earns an $18,000 to $27,000 a year.
While the salaries are not the highest, a career as a CNA can be rewarding, particularly if you are someone who thrives on helping people and making a difference in their lives. A CNA career is also a good way to get your foot in the door to a promising career in other areas of nursing or other fields in the medical profession altogether. A career as a CNA offers plenty of opportunity for advancement. It’s all a matter of what your career objectives and goals are. You would be working in a field that is in high demand and most likely will be for years to come, since people will always need healthcare.