31 Series · SOC 31-1131
Nursing Assistants Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $42,260
- Median / year
- +6.9%
- 2024→2025
- $51,980
- Top 10% earn
- +2.3%
- Growth '24–'34
- 1,448,910
- Estimated US jobs
Nursing Assistants earn a median of $42,260 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $42,260, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,940 (10th percentile) to $51,980 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,448,910 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Oregon ($49,830).
The pay verdict
Nursing Assistants earn a median of $42,260, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 15% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Support, it ranks #10 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% by 2034.
- $42,260
- Median annual wage
- Top 85%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #10 of 17
- in Healthcare Support
- 1.5×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Oregon at $49,830. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Nursing Assistants moved from $29,660 in May 2019 to $42,260 in May 2025 (+42.5%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Nursing Assistants sits +18.0 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131) has a national median of $42,260 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $33,940 to $51,980, and the published mean is $42,700. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 1,448,910 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 53 state or territory areas and 519 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $39,530 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $42,260 in May 2025, a rise of $2,730 (+6.9%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 204,100 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical education needed for entry. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) publish an occupation-specific rate that produces a WageDex safety grade of C, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $49,830, which is +18% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $56,840. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$42,260
per year
Median Hourly
$20.32/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$42,700
average
Employment
1,448,910
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Nursing Assistants pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$42,260 Bottom 15% higher than 15% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$42,260 · 15th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 31-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Nursing Assistants; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Home Health and Pers…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 17%, Median annual wage $35800
- Nursing Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $42260
- Medical Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.5%, Median annual wage $45690
- Dental Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $48070
- Phlebotomists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $45230
- Veterinary Assistant…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $38150
- Physical Therapist A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 22%, Median annual wage $68380
- Healthcare Support W…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $48430
- Massage Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15.4%, Median annual wage $58450
- Medical Equipment Pr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10%, Median annual wage $47700
- Orderlies: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $38290
- Occupational Therapy…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 19.2%, Median annual wage $72300
- Physical Therapist A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.8%, Median annual wage $35240
- Medical Transcriptio…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.9%, Median annual wage $40410
- Pharmacy Aides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $37680
- Psychiatric Aides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.4%, Median annual wage $44910
- Occupational Therapy…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $39160
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.3%
About as fast as average
Annual Openings
204,100
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+32,600
1,441,500 (2024) → 1,474,000 (2034)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
WageDex derived grade from BLS CFOI/SOII 2023, not an official BLS rating
Fatality Rate
0.5/100K
Injury Rate
8/100
Danger Index
32.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Nursing Assistants roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- ▸ Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- ▸ Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- ▸ Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- ▸ Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
- ▸ Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- ▸ Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Nursing Assistants pay history, 2019–2025
Published national median across 7 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $29,660 |
| 2020 | $30,850 |
| 2021 | $30,310 |
| 2022 | $35,760 |
| 2023 | $38,200 |
| 2024 | $39,530 |
| 2025 | $42,260 |
2019 median
$29,660
2025 median
$42,260
2019–2025 change
+$12,600 (+42.5%)
Avg/year
+6.1%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2019 | $29,660 | First banked release | 1,419,920 |
| May 2020 | $30,850 | +4.0% | 1,371,050 |
| May 2021 | $30,310 | -1.8% | 1,314,830 |
| May 2022 | $35,760 | +18.0% | 1,310,090 |
| May 2023 | $38,200 | +6.8% | 1,351,760 |
| May 2024 | $39,530 | +3.5% | 1,388,430 |
| May 2025 | $42,260 | +6.9% | 1,448,910 |
Across the 7 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $29,660 in May 2019 to $42,260 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +6.1% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 1,419,920 in May 2019 to 1,448,910 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $49,830 | +18% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $49,180 | +16% above national |
| 3 | New York | $48,590 | +15% above national |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $47,870 | +13% above national |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $47,700 | +13% above national |
| 6 | California | $47,630 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Colorado | $47,380 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Vermont | $47,130 | +12% above national |
| 9 | Maine | $47,070 | +11% above national |
| 10 | New Jersey | $46,830 | +11% above national |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $46,680 | +10% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $46,680 | +10% above national |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $46,440 | +10% above national |
| 14 | Alaska | $46,370 | +10% above national |
| 15 | Illinois | $45,960 | +9% above national |
| 16 | North Dakota | $45,820 | +8% above national |
| 17 | Nevada | $45,490 | +8% above national |
| 18 | Hawaii | $45,350 | +7% above national |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $45,130 | +7% above national |
| 20 | Connecticut | $44,790 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Arizona | $44,780 | +6% above national |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $44,590 | +6% above national |
| 23 | Maryland | $43,240 | +2% above national |
| 24 | Virginia | $43,200 | +2% above national |
| 25 | Delaware | $42,030 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Montana | $40,900 | 3% below national |
| 27 | Nebraska | $40,000 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Utah | $39,840 | 6% below national |
| 29 | Michigan | $39,570 | 6% below national |
| 30 | New Mexico | $39,390 | 7% below national |
| 31 | Iowa | $39,350 | 7% below national |
| 32 | Wyoming | $39,160 | 7% below national |
| 33 | Ohio | $39,010 | 8% below national |
| 34 | South Dakota | $38,800 | 8% below national |
| 35 | Idaho | $38,650 | 9% below national |
| 36 | North Carolina | $38,460 | 9% below national |
| 37 | Kentucky | $38,370 | 9% below national |
| 38 | Indiana | $38,330 | 9% below national |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,010 | 10% below national |
| 40 | Tennessee | $37,990 | 10% below national |
| 41 | Georgia | $37,680 | 11% below national |
| 42 | Missouri | $37,680 | 11% below national |
| 43 | Florida | $37,510 | 11% below national |
| 44 | Texas | $37,500 | 11% below national |
| 45 | Virgin Islands | $37,240 | 12% below national |
| 46 | South Carolina | $37,220 | 12% below national |
| 47 | West Virginia | $36,720 | 13% below national |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $35,930 | 15% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $34,430 | 19% below national |
| 50 | Alabama | $34,140 | 19% below national |
| 51 | Mississippi | $31,520 | 25% below national |
| 52 | Louisiana | $30,510 | 28% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $22,850 | 46% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 385 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,840 | +35% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $56,080 | +33% above national |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $51,990 | +23% above national |
| 4 | Napa, CA | $50,370 | +19% above national |
| 5 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $50,350 | +19% above national |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $50,080 | +19% above national |
| 7 | Boulder, CO | $49,860 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Grants Pass, OR | $49,770 | +18% above national |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49,270 | +17% above national |
| 10 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $49,240 | +17% above national |
| 11 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $49,160 | +16% above national |
| 12 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $49,110 | +16% above national |
| 13 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $49,020 | +16% above national |
| 14 | Vallejo, CA | $48,900 | +16% above national |
| 15 | Vineland, NJ | $48,890 | +16% above national |
| 16 | Salinas, CA | $48,870 | +16% above national |
| 17 | Salem, OR | $48,840 | +16% above national |
| 18 | Corvallis, OR | $48,830 | +16% above national |
| 19 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $48,570 | +15% above national |
| 20 | Albany, OR | $48,550 | +15% above national |
| 21 | Barnstable Town, MA | $48,520 | +15% above national |
| 22 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $48,520 | +15% above national |
| 23 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $48,320 | +14% above national |
| 24 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $48,190 | +14% above national |
| 25 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,180 | +14% above national |
| 26 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,070 | +14% above national |
| 27 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $48,060 | +14% above national |
| 28 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $48,060 | +14% above national |
| 29 | Bellingham, WA | $48,040 | +14% above national |
| 30 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,020 | +14% above national |
| 31 | Walla Walla, WA | $47,990 | +14% above national |
| 32 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $47,940 | +13% above national |
| 33 | Medford, OR | $47,890 | +13% above national |
| 34 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $47,830 | +13% above national |
| 35 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $47,630 | +13% above national |
| 36 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $47,590 | +13% above national |
| 37 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,510 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,380 | +12% above national |
| 39 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $47,240 | +12% above national |
| 40 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $47,130 | +12% above national |
| 41 | Yakima, WA | $47,080 | +11% above national |
| 42 | Sheboygan, WI | $47,050 | +11% above national |
| 43 | Bangor, ME | $46,970 | +11% above national |
| 44 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,940 | +11% above national |
| 45 | Carson City, NV | $46,880 | +11% above national |
| 46 | Rochester, MN | $46,840 | +11% above national |
| 47 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $46,840 | +11% above national |
| 48 | Visalia, CA | $46,810 | +11% above national |
| 49 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $46,800 | +11% above national |
| 50 | Reno, NV | $46,760 | +11% above national |
| 51 | Bismarck, ND | $46,720 | +11% above national |
| 52 | Greeley, CO | $46,670 | +10% above national |
| 53 | Pittsfield, MA | $46,620 | +10% above national |
| 54 | Modesto, CA | $46,550 | +10% above national |
| 55 | Santa Fe, NM | $46,530 | +10% above national |
| 56 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,530 | +10% above national |
| 57 | Mankato, MN | $46,430 | +10% above national |
| 58 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,430 | +10% above national |
| 59 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $46,400 | +10% above national |
| 60 | Chico, CA | $46,380 | +10% above national |
| 61 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $46,330 | +10% above national |
| 62 | Cheyenne, WY | $46,320 | +10% above national |
| 63 | Bozeman, MT | $46,220 | +9% above national |
| 64 | Kenosha, WI | $46,220 | +9% above national |
| 65 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $46,220 | +9% above national |
| 66 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,130 | +9% above national |
| 67 | Yuba City, CA | $46,130 | +9% above national |
| 68 | Colorado Springs, CO | $46,120 | +9% above national |
| 69 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $46,110 | +9% above national |
| 70 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $45,980 | +9% above national |
| 71 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $45,980 | +9% above national |
| 72 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $45,970 | +9% above national |
| 73 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $45,740 | +8% above national |
| 74 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $45,730 | +8% above national |
| 75 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $45,730 | +8% above national |
| 76 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $45,710 | +8% above national |
| 77 | Worcester, MA | $45,710 | +8% above national |
| 78 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $45,690 | +8% above national |
| 79 | Ithaca, NY | $45,640 | +8% above national |
| 80 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $45,560 | +8% above national |
| 81 | Reading, PA | $45,530 | +8% above national |
| 82 | Battle Creek, MI | $45,470 | +8% above national |
| 83 | Anchorage, AK | $45,370 | +7% above national |
| 84 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | +7% above national |
| 85 | Lebanon, PA | $45,340 | +7% above national |
| 86 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $45,290 | +7% above national |
| 87 | Pueblo, CO | $45,270 | +7% above national |
| 88 | Chambersburg, PA | $45,260 | +7% above national |
| 89 | Madison, WI | $45,260 | +7% above national |
| 90 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $45,260 | +7% above national |
| 91 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $45,180 | +7% above national |
| 92 | New Haven, CT | $45,030 | +7% above national |
| 93 | Grand Junction, CO | $44,980 | +6% above national |
| 94 | Lancaster, PA | $44,890 | +6% above national |
| 95 | Redding, CA | $44,880 | +6% above national |
| 96 | Appleton, WI | $44,760 | +6% above national |
| 97 | Springfield, MA | $44,740 | +6% above national |
| 98 | Merced, CA | $44,730 | +6% above national |
| 99 | Fresno, CA | $44,710 | +6% above national |
| 100 | Kingston, NY | $44,710 | +6% above national |
| 101 | El Centro, CA | $44,670 | +6% above national |
| 102 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $44,590 | +6% above national |
| 103 | Flagstaff, AZ | $44,580 | +5% above national |
| 104 | Ann Arbor, MI | $44,570 | +5% above national |
| 105 | York-Hanover, PA | $44,530 | +5% above national |
| 106 | Fond du Lac, WI | $44,490 | +5% above national |
| 107 | Binghamton, NY | $44,410 | +5% above national |
| 108 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $44,360 | +5% above national |
| 109 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $44,340 | +5% above national |
| 110 | Lexington Park, MD | $44,270 | +5% above national |
| 111 | Duluth, MN-WI | $44,250 | +5% above national |
| 112 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $44,210 | +5% above national |
| 113 | Charlottesville, VA | $44,140 | +4% above national |
| 114 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $43,980 | +4% above national |
| 115 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | +4% above national |
| 116 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $43,940 | +4% above national |
| 117 | Lynchburg, VA | $43,660 | +3% above national |
| 118 | Wausau, WI | $43,660 | +3% above national |
| 119 | Utica-Rome, NY | $43,560 | +3% above national |
| 120 | Ames, IA | $43,540 | +3% above national |
| 121 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $43,510 | +3% above national |
| 122 | Green Bay, WI | $43,450 | +3% above national |
| 123 | Bloomington, IL | $43,180 | +2% above national |
| 124 | Eau Claire, WI | $43,150 | +2% above national |
| 125 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $43,140 | +2% above national |
| 126 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $43,080 | +2% above national |
| 127 | Pittsburgh, PA | $43,080 | +2% above national |
| 128 | Peoria, IL | $43,040 | +2% above national |
| 129 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $43,010 | +2% above national |
| 130 | Columbus, OH | $42,970 | +2% above national |
| 131 | Syracuse, NY | $42,940 | +2% above national |
| 132 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $42,770 | +1% above national |
| 133 | Richmond, VA | $42,720 | +1% above national |
| 134 | Tucson, AZ | $42,560 | +1% above national |
| 135 | Gettysburg, PA | $42,520 | +1% above national |
| 136 | Helena, MT | $42,520 | +1% above national |
| 137 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $42,490 | +1% above national |
| 138 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $42,220 | same as national |
| 139 | Decatur, IL | $41,990 | 1% below national |
| 140 | Traverse City, MI | $41,900 | 1% below national |
| 141 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $41,870 | 1% below national |
| 142 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $41,670 | 1% below national |
| 143 | Dubuque, IA | $41,580 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Gainesville, GA | $41,390 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Columbia, MO | $41,290 | 2% below national |
| 146 | Niles, MI | $41,070 | 3% below national |
| 147 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $40,560 | 4% below national |
| 148 | St. George, UT | $40,520 | 4% below national |
| 149 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $40,510 | 4% below national |
| 150 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $40,350 | 5% below national |
| 151 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $40,260 | 5% below national |
| 152 | Asheville, NC | $40,170 | 5% below national |
| 153 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $40,160 | 5% below national |
| 154 | Rockford, IL | $40,140 | 5% below national |
| 155 | St. Cloud, MN | $40,130 | 5% below national |
| 156 | Jackson, MI | $40,080 | 5% below national |
| 157 | Springfield, IL | $40,070 | 5% below national |
| 158 | Rochester, NY | $40,050 | 5% below national |
| 159 | Spartanburg, SC | $40,050 | 5% below national |
| 160 | Omaha, NE-IA | $40,020 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Winchester, VA-WV | $39,970 | 5% below national |
| 162 | Albuquerque, NM | $39,950 | 5% below national |
| 163 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $39,950 | 5% below national |
| 164 | Fargo, ND-MN | $39,940 | 5% below national |
| 165 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $39,900 | 6% below national |
| 166 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $39,890 | 6% below national |
| 167 | Williamsport, PA | $39,830 | 6% below national |
| 168 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $39,820 | 6% below national |
| 169 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $39,790 | 6% below national |
| 170 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $39,730 | 6% below national |
| 171 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $39,710 | 6% below national |
| 172 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,710 | 6% below national |
| 173 | Toledo, OH | $39,700 | 6% below national |
| 174 | Dover, DE | $39,600 | 6% below national |
| 175 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $39,510 | 7% below national |
| 176 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $39,500 | 7% below national |
| 177 | Greenville, NC | $39,480 | 7% below national |
| 178 | State College, PA | $39,440 | 7% below national |
| 179 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $39,430 | 7% below national |
| 180 | Erie, PA | $39,430 | 7% below national |
| 181 | Saginaw, MI | $39,400 | 7% below national |
| 182 | Farmington, NM | $39,390 | 7% below national |
| 183 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $39,380 | 7% below national |
| 184 | Mansfield, OH | $39,380 | 7% below national |
| 185 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $39,350 | 7% below national |
| 186 | Midland, MI | $39,340 | 7% below national |
| 187 | Great Falls, MT | $39,330 | 7% below national |
| 188 | Iowa City, IA | $39,330 | 7% below national |
| 189 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $39,260 | 7% below national |
| 190 | Akron, OH | $39,250 | 7% below national |
| 191 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $39,230 | 7% below national |
| 192 | Boise City, ID | $39,220 | 7% below national |
| 193 | Flint, MI | $39,190 | 7% below national |
| 194 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $39,190 | 7% below national |
| 195 | Billings, MT | $39,150 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $39,110 | 7% below national |
| 197 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $39,110 | 7% below national |
| 198 | Burlington, NC | $39,090 | 8% below national |
| 199 | Owensboro, KY | $39,020 | 8% below national |
| 200 | Cleveland, OH | $39,010 | 8% below national |
| 201 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $38,990 | 8% below national |
| 202 | Roanoke, VA | $38,960 | 8% below national |
| 203 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $38,940 | 8% below national |
| 204 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $38,930 | 8% below national |
| 205 | Grand Island, NE | $38,880 | 8% below national |
| 206 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $38,880 | 8% below national |
| 207 | Altoona, PA | $38,870 | 8% below national |
| 208 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $38,870 | 8% below national |
| 209 | Harrisonburg, VA | $38,830 | 8% below national |
| 210 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,810 | 8% below national |
| 211 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $38,790 | 8% below national |
| 212 | Johnstown, PA | $38,760 | 8% below national |
| 213 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $38,760 | 8% below national |
| 214 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $38,740 | 8% below national |
| 215 | Salisbury, MD | $38,740 | 8% below national |
| 216 | Casper, WY | $38,730 | 8% below national |
| 217 | Topeka, KS | $38,720 | 8% below national |
| 218 | Twin Falls, ID | $38,670 | 8% below national |
| 219 | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,660 | 9% below national |
| 220 | Lincoln, NE | $38,650 | 9% below national |
| 221 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $38,550 | 9% below national |
| 222 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $38,550 | 9% below national |
| 223 | Missoula, MT | $38,550 | 9% below national |
| 224 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $38,550 | 9% below national |
| 225 | Goldsboro, NC | $38,540 | 9% below national |
| 226 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $38,530 | 9% below national |
| 227 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $38,530 | 9% below national |
| 228 | Lawrence, KS | $38,520 | 9% below national |
| 229 | Rapid City, SD | $38,500 | 9% below national |
| 230 | Ogden, UT | $38,480 | 9% below national |
| 231 | Savannah, GA | $38,450 | 9% below national |
| 232 | Monroe, MI | $38,420 | 9% below national |
| 233 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $38,400 | 9% below national |
| 234 | Bowling Green, KY | $38,340 | 9% below national |
| 235 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,340 | 9% below national |
| 236 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $38,320 | 9% below national |
| 237 | Bay City, MI | $38,260 | 9% below national |
| 238 | Columbus, IN | $38,260 | 9% below national |
| 239 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $38,260 | 9% below national |
| 240 | Kokomo, IN | $38,250 | 9% below national |
| 241 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $38,150 | 10% below national |
| 242 | Elizabethtown, KY | $38,030 | 10% below national |
| 243 | Springfield, OH | $38,020 | 10% below national |
| 244 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $38,010 | 10% below national |
| 245 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,010 | 10% below national |
| 246 | Knoxville, TN | $38,000 | 10% below national |
| 247 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $37,970 | 10% below national |
| 248 | Elmira, NY | $37,960 | 10% below national |
| 249 | Sandusky, OH | $37,910 | 10% below national |
| 250 | Kankakee, IL | $37,900 | 10% below national |
| 251 | Wichita Falls, TX | $37,870 | 10% below national |
| 252 | Paducah, KY-IL | $37,860 | 10% below national |
| 253 | Yuma, AZ | $37,860 | 10% below national |
| 254 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $37,850 | 10% below national |
| 255 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $37,840 | 10% below national |
| 256 | Jacksonville, FL | $37,760 | 11% below national |
| 257 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $37,760 | 11% below national |
| 258 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $37,730 | 11% below national |
| 259 | Idaho Falls, ID | $37,720 | 11% below national |
| 260 | Wilmington, NC | $37,710 | 11% below national |
| 261 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,690 | 11% below national |
| 262 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $37,690 | 11% below national |
| 263 | Rocky Mount, NC | $37,650 | 11% below national |
| 264 | Morristown, TN | $37,620 | 11% below national |
| 265 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $37,550 | 11% below national |
| 266 | Fayetteville, NC | $37,530 | 11% below national |
| 267 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $37,510 | 11% below national |
| 268 | Warner Robins, GA | $37,500 | 11% below national |
| 269 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $37,470 | 11% below national |
| 270 | Abilene, TX | $37,460 | 11% below national |
| 271 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $37,430 | 11% below national |
| 272 | Columbia, SC | $37,400 | 12% below national |
| 273 | Las Cruces, NM | $37,400 | 12% below national |
| 274 | Lima, OH | $37,360 | 12% below national |
| 275 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $37,320 | 12% below national |
| 276 | Johnson City, TN | $37,310 | 12% below national |
| 277 | Waco, TX | $37,290 | 12% below national |
| 278 | Wichita, KS | $37,290 | 12% below national |
| 279 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $37,220 | 12% below national |
| 280 | Rome, GA | $37,220 | 12% below national |
| 281 | Fort Wayne, IN | $37,210 | 12% below national |
| 282 | Evansville, IN | $37,180 | 12% below national |
| 283 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $37,140 | 12% below national |
| 284 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $37,140 | 12% below national |
| 285 | Cleveland, TN | $37,130 | 12% below national |
| 286 | Muncie, IN | $37,080 | 12% below national |
| 287 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $37,070 | 12% below national |
| 288 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $37,050 | 12% below national |
| 289 | Gainesville, FL | $36,990 | 12% below national |
| 290 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $36,970 | 13% below national |
| 291 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $36,950 | 13% below national |
| 292 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $36,930 | 13% below national |
| 293 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $36,910 | 13% below national |
| 294 | Jackson, TN | $36,900 | 13% below national |
| 295 | Bloomington, IN | $36,820 | 13% below national |
| 296 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $36,800 | 13% below national |
| 297 | Tulsa, OK | $36,720 | 13% below national |
| 298 | Amarillo, TX | $36,700 | 13% below national |
| 299 | Punta Gorda, FL | $36,700 | 13% below national |
| 300 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,650 | 13% below national |
| 301 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,560 | 13% below national |
| 302 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $36,540 | 14% below national |
| 303 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $36,520 | 14% below national |
| 304 | Ocala, FL | $36,510 | 14% below national |
| 305 | Minot, ND | $36,500 | 14% below national |
| 306 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $36,430 | 14% below national |
| 307 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $36,420 | 14% below national |
| 308 | Terre Haute, IN | $36,360 | 14% below national |
| 309 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $36,330 | 14% below national |
| 310 | Pocatello, ID | $36,330 | 14% below national |
| 311 | Decatur, AL | $36,280 | 14% below national |
| 312 | Charleston, WV | $36,250 | 14% below national |
| 313 | Odessa, TX | $36,250 | 14% below national |
| 314 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $36,220 | 14% below national |
| 315 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $36,190 | 14% below national |
| 316 | Springfield, MO | $36,180 | 14% below national |
| 317 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $36,120 | 15% below national |
| 318 | Dalton, GA | $36,110 | 15% below national |
| 319 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $36,110 | 15% below national |
| 320 | Jefferson City, MO | $36,080 | 15% below national |
| 321 | Manhattan, KS | $36,080 | 15% below national |
| 322 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $36,000 | 15% below national |
| 323 | Midland, TX | $35,970 | 15% below national |
| 324 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $35,970 | 15% below national |
| 325 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $35,940 | 15% below national |
| 326 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $35,900 | 15% below national |
| 327 | Jacksonville, NC | $35,880 | 15% below national |
| 328 | Morgantown, WV | $35,880 | 15% below national |
| 329 | Sumter, SC | $35,860 | 15% below national |
| 330 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $35,820 | 15% below national |
| 331 | Beckley, WV | $35,810 | 15% below national |
| 332 | Logan, UT-ID | $35,720 | 15% below national |
| 333 | Sebring, FL | $35,650 | 16% below national |
| 334 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $35,610 | 16% below national |
| 335 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $35,530 | 16% below national |
| 336 | Birmingham, AL | $35,470 | 16% below national |
| 337 | Florence, SC | $35,400 | 16% below national |
| 338 | San Angelo, TX | $35,390 | 16% below national |
| 339 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $35,370 | 16% below national |
| 340 | Corpus Christi, TX | $35,300 | 16% below national |
| 341 | Tyler, TX | $35,300 | 16% below national |
| 342 | Albany, GA | $35,260 | 17% below national |
| 343 | Huntsville, AL | $35,210 | 17% below national |
| 344 | Jonesboro, AR | $35,210 | 17% below national |
| 345 | Montgomery, AL | $35,210 | 17% below national |
| 346 | Lawton, OK | $35,190 | 17% below national |
| 347 | El Paso, TX | $35,170 | 17% below national |
| 348 | Laredo, TX | $35,120 | 17% below national |
| 349 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $35,110 | 17% below national |
| 350 | Columbus, GA-AL | $34,970 | 17% below national |
| 351 | Joplin, MO-KS | $34,600 | 18% below national |
| 352 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $34,510 | 18% below national |
| 353 | Longview, TX | $34,510 | 18% below national |
| 354 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $34,320 | 19% below national |
| 355 | Lubbock, TX | $34,300 | 19% below national |
| 356 | Enid, OK | $34,250 | 19% below national |
| 357 | Tallahassee, FL | $34,180 | 19% below national |
| 358 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $34,150 | 19% below national |
| 359 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $34,050 | 19% below national |
| 360 | Valdosta, GA | $34,040 | 19% below national |
| 361 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $33,990 | 20% below national |
| 362 | Victoria, TX | $33,980 | 20% below national |
| 363 | Lake Charles, LA | $33,850 | 20% below national |
| 364 | Hammond, LA | $33,010 | 22% below national |
| 365 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $32,880 | 22% below national |
| 366 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $32,860 | 22% below national |
| 367 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $32,160 | 24% below national |
| 368 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $32,110 | 24% below national |
| 369 | Jackson, MS | $32,040 | 24% below national |
| 370 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $32,020 | 24% below national |
| 371 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $31,940 | 24% below national |
| 372 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $31,920 | 24% below national |
| 373 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $31,520 | 25% below national |
| 374 | Baton Rouge, LA | $31,220 | 26% below national |
| 375 | Mobile, AL | $30,880 | 27% below national |
| 376 | Alexandria, LA | $30,650 | 27% below national |
| 377 | Gadsden, AL | $30,440 | 28% below national |
| 378 | Hattiesburg, MS | $30,440 | 28% below national |
| 379 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $30,140 | 29% below national |
| 380 | Lafayette, LA | $29,960 | 29% below national |
| 381 | Hot Springs, AR | $29,940 | 29% below national |
| 382 | Monroe, LA | $29,880 | 29% below national |
| 383 | Dothan, AL | $29,830 | 29% below national |
| 384 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,850 | 46% below national |
| 385 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,840 | 48% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 31 (Healthcare Support Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Dental Assistants
SOC 31-9091
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
SOC 31-9099
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
SOC 31-1120
Massage Therapists
SOC 31-9011
Medical Assistants
SOC 31-9092
Showing 5 of 16 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Support Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($42,260 here) and reported employment (1,448,910 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Nursing Assistants make? ▼
Where does Nursing Assistants pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Nursing Assistants the most? ▼
What education do Nursing Assistants need? ▼
How dangerous is the work for Nursing Assistants? ▼
Is Nursing Assistants a good career? ▼
How does Nursing Assistants pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Nursing Assistants? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Nursing Assistants pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $47,220/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $49,830/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.