Certified Nursing Assistant Salary
A job as a certified nursing assistant will not make you rich but it can give you steady employment, decent wages, and an excellent opportunity to advance to a position as an LPN, RN, or related health specialty. So how much money does a nursing assistant make on average?
That depends on a number of factors including geographic location, amount of experience, local demand, and specific employer related pay scales. The hourly rate for a newly certified professional usually starts somewhere between $8.50 and $11 per hour in most parts of the country. Do not let the starting salary discourage you as there are typically frequent performance reviews and opportunities to earn raises, bonuses, and overtime pay.
With a little experience under your belt, the average hourly wage jumps to between $13 and $16 per hour. Overtime work, when it is available can easily bump that to well over the $20 mark. Additional training and certifications such as CPR can also lead to a higher salary. Currently the highest paying markets include California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, and Arizona. Other factors to include in compensation calculations include paid time off, tuition reimbursement, medical and dental benefits, and job schedule.
A full-time certified nursing assistant working in a major city can expect to earn an average annual salary of between $22,000 and $33,500. A few of the top employers in this field include Kindred Healthcare, Life Care Centers of America, and Genesis Healthcare Corporation. Many CNAs will go on to pursue training as an LPN or RN within a year or two where the opportunity to make between $50,000 and $80,000 per year exists. Training to become a certified nursing assistant is a great way to launch your career in healthcare without investing an excessive amount of time or money into your education.
Most certified nursing assistant programs can be completed in a very short amount of time and you may even be able to find a CNA course online to fulfill the non-clinical portion of your training. Getting certified as a nursing assistant is a great way to test the waters and find out if a career in the healthcare industry is right for you. Once you get some experience, you will put yourself in an excellent position to move forward with your career and become an RN or a licensed practical nurse.
Are there any jobs available?
The career outlook for CNAs is very favorable right now. Demand for certified nursing assistants has been strong in recent years and current forecasts call for it to remain so over the next decade. The steady growth in the healthcare industry is creating abundant employment opportunities for certified nursing assistants at a time when the overall economy is facing a challenging job market. Do you need to research detailed salary information? Try this tool which allows you to see how much money a CNA makes per year by state, city, or zip code. Now that you know the approximate range of salaries for CNAs, you are ready to learn more about how to become a certified nursing assistant. Our step by step guide explains exactly how the process works and will walk you through everything you need to do to find a school and get started. Classes can fill up quickly so be sure to gather up some information on schools in your area and apply early so you can secure the best course scheduling.