In spite of being a medical job, the CNA salary range is not as high as other nursing careers, but it comes with an assurance of job security.
Out of the many jobs in the medical field, a career as a certified nursing assistant is one of the most important. A CNA is a well qualified clinical personnel who is handed over the responsibility of taking basic care of patients. The job description includes all primary tasks that are supposed to be carried out under the supervision of Registered Nurses (RNs). Direct patient care is the most important responsibility of a certified nursing assistant. More than the salary, people get into this profession, because it is a secure job.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salary Range
By Experience Level
Be in any career opportunity, the salary range will greatly depend on how much experience the individual has. That annual pay for those without any experience or less than one year experience ranges from about USD 20,000 to USD 31,000. Certified nursing assistants with one to four years of experience in the field can expect an annual remuneration of USD 22,000 to USD 32,000 approximately. Those with five to nine years of experience can be eligible for a pay ranging from USD 19,000 to USD 33,000 per annum. Likewise, the salary potential of this job keeps increasing with the experience level.
By State
Another notable determinant is the state of employment. In New York, the salary is recorded to be ranging from about USD 21,000 to USD 36,000, while in California, the per annum pay starts from around USD 20,500 to USD 35,000. Florida has a range from USD 19,500 to USD 34,000, with the states of Texas and Illinois having a similar range of USD 20,000 to USD 30,500 and USD 19,500 to USD 31,000, respectively. In North Carolina and Georgia, the pay scales of CNAs were approximately USD 18,500 to USD 28,000 and USD 16,000 to USD 26,000, respectively.
By City
There was a wide variation in the salary ranges in different major cities as well. In New York City, the pay scaled from USD 31,000 to USD 50,000; whereas in St. Louis, the pay ranged from USD 18,000 to USD 30,000. Cities like Seattle and Houston have a similar pay range of USD 21,000 to USD 38,000 and USD 20,500 to USD 36,000 respectively. In Portland, the range is reported to be at USD 17,000 to USD 35,500 per year. The pay ranges in Los Angeles and Chicago are nearby with USD 24,500 to USD 35,000 and USD 24,000 to USD 34,000, respectively.
By Medical Setting
The salary range also varies according to the medical setting of providing patient care services. Certified nursing assistants in nursing homes may get a pay ranging from USD 17,500 to USD 29,000; whereas those hired by general hospitals can expect somewhere around USD 20,000 to USD 31,000. If you are a CNA in a private practice, a doctor’s office, or a military hospital, you can get a per annum pay from USD 23,000 to USD 36,000. Those employed in ambulatory care hospital settings can get a pay of USD 18,000 to USD 39,000.
Note that this is just an estimate of a certified nursing assistant’s salary range, and may change according to financial conditions and the demand for them in the medical sector. Though the pay is not that high, this career is certainly emotionally satisfying and also secure.