State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Nursing Assistant Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Nursing Assistants is $42,260 a year ($20.32/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% through 2034, with about 204,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
SOC 31-1131Healthcare SupportLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $42,260
- Projected growth
- +2.3%
- Openings a year
- 204,100
- Typical education
- Certificate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Certified Medication Aide (CMA), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Certified Nurses Aide (CNA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), Nurses' Aide.
How much do Nursing Assistants make?
10th percentile$33,940
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$37,260
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$42,260
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$47,220
Upper quartile
90th percentile$51,980
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $42,260 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $20.32/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $42,700 |
| People employed | 1,448,910 |
Versus all US occupations
At $42,260, Nursing Assistants earn 17% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,720 a year.
Versus healthcare support occupations
Inside the Healthcare Support group, where the middle occupation pays $44,910, this is 6% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $51,980 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,940, a gap of 1.5×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 13% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Oregon posts the highest raw median ($49,830), but once local prices are taken into account North Dakota leads at $51,507 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Nursing Assistants the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 | $48,210 | 14,800 |
| Washington | $49,180 | $45,957 | 30,270 |
| New York | $48,590 | $45,024 | 87,990 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 | $45,956 | 7,810 |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 | $43,403 | 3,490 |
| California | $47,630 | $43,018 | 110,060 |
| Colorado | $47,380 | $45,977 | 22,240 |
| Vermont | $47,130 | $48,112 | 3,030 |
| Maine | $47,070 | $48,501 | 8,540 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 | $43,040 | 32,400 |
Is Nursing Assistant a growing career?
Nursing Assistants2.3%
All US occupations3.1%
+2.3% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Nursing Assistants to change 2.3% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 32,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 204,100 openings are projected each year, 14.2% of the 1,441,500 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Despite limited employment growth, about 211,800 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
As the population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to help care for an increasing number of older people who have chronic or progressive diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
How to become a Nursing Assistant
There is no national nursing assistant license. The gate is federal and then state: Medicare and Medicaid rules require that a facility not use anyone as a nurse aide for more than four months unless they have completed a state-approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program, and a facility must receive nurse aide registry verification before letting someone work as a nurse aide. Federal rules set a floor of 75 clock hours of training; the credential title, such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), is set by each state.
The credential path, step by step
- Complete a state-approved nurse aide training programAt least 75 hours; set by the state
These run in high schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Federally the program must be at least 75 clock hours with at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and 16 hours of specified subjects must come before any direct contact with a resident.
- Pass the state competency evaluation
The training program must contain the competency evaluation procedures required by 42 CFR 483.154. Passing it is what allows you to use the state-specific title.
- Get listed on the state nurse aide registry
Nursing assistants who pass the competency exam are placed on the state registry, and must be on it to work in a nursing home. A facility must receive registry verification before allowing you to serve as a nurse aide, so registry listing is the practical hiring gate.
- Complete employer on-the-job training
Nursing assistants typically complete a short period of on-the-job training covering their specific employer's policies and procedures. Students may not perform services for which they have not been trained and found proficient.
- Add a state medication credential if your state offers one
BLS notes that in some states nursing assistants may earn additional credentials, such as Certified Medication Assistant (CMA), which allows them to dispense medications.
Exams you have to pass
Nurse aide competency evaluation
Every approved nurse aide training program must contain the competency evaluation procedures set out in the federal regulation. It is taken after the training program, and passing it is what places you on the state nurse aide registry and lets you use the state's title. The exam's name and format are set at state level, not nationally.
Administered by Each state, under federal requirements at 42 CFR 483.154.
- How long the training takes
At least 75 clock hours
Federal rules require that an approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program consist of no less than 75 clock hours, include at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and cover at least 16 hours of communication and interpersonal skills, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, promoting residents' independence and respecting residents' rights before any direct contact with a resident. Because the regulation states these as minimums, state programs can be longer.
- Continuing education
Not required
There is no national continuing-education requirement placed on the individual. BLS notes some states add requirements such as continuing education. Two federal rules do bite: if 24 consecutive months pass during which you provided no nursing or nursing-related services for pay, you must complete a new training and competency evaluation program; and facilities must review each nurse aide's performance at least once every 12 months and provide regular in-service education.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
The credential is issued and titled by the state. BLS notes that in some states a nursing assistant is called a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) but titles vary by state. What varies: the number of training hours above the federal 75-hour floor, the format and passing standard of the competency evaluation, whether the state requires continuing education, criminal background checks, and the operation of the state registry itself. Registry listing is what a nursing home must verify before letting you work.
Who governs the credential
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — Sets the federal minimum standards, at 42 CFR part 483, for nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs, for the state nurse aide registry, and for when a long-term care facility may use someone as a nurse aide.
Credential detail for nursing assistants is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- eCFR, 42 CFR 483.152, Requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 42 CFR 483.35, Nursing services (nurse aide competency, registry verification, required retraining) · checked August 23, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nursing Assistants and Orderlies (How to Become One) · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Nursing assistants typically must complete a state-approved education program and pass their state’s competency exam. Orderlies typically have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as nursing assistants.
- High School Diploma38.7%
- Post-Secondary Certificate24.0%
- Some College Courses12.2%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)9.8%
- Bachelor's Degree6.1%
What does a Nursing Assistant do?
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.
Nursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.
Day-to-day tasks
- Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Change bed linens or make beds.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Although most nursing assistants and orderlies work full time, some work part time. Because nursing and residential care facilities and hospitals provide care at all hours, nursing assistants and orderlies may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
- Regular bending or twisting
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where nursing assistants work
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 35% |
|---|---|
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 33% |
| Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly | 11% |
| Home healthcare services | 5% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.6/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Speaking3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
- Writing2.8/5
- Learning Strategies2.4/5
Transferable skills
- Service Orientation4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.6/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Time Management2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.6/5
- Instructing2.5/5
- Operations Monitoring2.3/5
Tools and software
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Billing and invoicing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
- Video conferencing software
- Video creation and editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Nursing Assistant?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.6
Investigative2.7
Artistic1.0
Socialprimary5.7
Enterprising1.8
Conventionalprimary4.2
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Nursing Assistant: frequently asked questions
How much do Nursing Assistants make?
Nursing Assistants earn a median of $42,260 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 17% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $20.32/hr. The middle half earn between $37,260 and $47,220. The top 10% earn $51,980 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Nursing Assistant?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Nursing Assistants. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 38.7% hold high school diploma.
Is Nursing Assistant a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 2.3% over 2024–2034, about the same as the 3.1% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 204,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Nursing Assistant do?
Nursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. A core O*NET task: provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising. Employers most often ask for Business intelligence and data analysis software, Electronic mail software, Medical software.
Which states pay Nursing Assistants the most?
The highest state medians for Nursing Assistants are Oregon ($49,830), Washington ($49,180), New York ($48,590) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Dakota moves to the top at $51,507.
What personality type suits a Nursing Assistant?
O*NET scores Nursing Assistants highest on the Social, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Nursing Assistant?
At least 75 clock hours. Federal rules require that an approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program consist of no less than 75 clock hours, include at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and cover at least 16 hours of communication and interpersonal skills, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, promoting residents' independence and respecting residents' rights before any direct contact with a resident. Because the regulation states these as minimums, state programs can be longer.
Do you need a license to work as a Nursing Assistant?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. The credential is issued and titled by the state. BLS notes that in some states a nursing assistant is called a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) but titles vary by state. What varies: the number of training hours above the federal 75-hour floor, the format and passing standard of the competency evaluation, whether the state requires continuing education, criminal background checks, and the operation of the state registry itself. Registry listing is what a nursing home must verify before letting you work.
What exams do you have to pass to become a Nursing Assistant?
The Nurse aide competency evaluation. Every approved nurse aide training program must contain the competency evaluation procedures set out in the federal regulation. It is taken after the training program, and passing it is what places you on the state nurse aide registry and lets you use the state's title. The exam's name and format are set at state level, not nationally.