Best paying cities for nursing assistant (cna)s, after cost of living
After cost of living, nursing assistant (cna) pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $51,486) and least far in Miami (worth $33,284).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | 110.4 | $51,486 | +22% |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | 115.6 | $48,512 | +15% |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $50,350 | 105.4 | $47,770 | +13% |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | 111.1 | $46,796 | +11% |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $49,110 | 105.8 | $46,418 | +10% |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,020 | 104.8 | $45,821 | +8% |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $43,080 | 94.7 | $45,491 | +8% |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $46,940 | 103.6 | $45,309 | +7% |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | 100.2 | $45,259 | +7% |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,220 | 102.6 | $45,049 | +7% |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $47,510 | 106.7 | $44,527 | +5% |
| 12 | Boston, MA | $47,590 | 108.3 | $43,943 | +4% |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | $45,290 | 103.3 | $43,843 | +4% |
| 14 | New York, NY | $49,270 | 112.6 | $43,757 | +4% |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $48,070 | 111.9 | $42,958 | +2% |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $45,730 | 108.9 | $41,993 | −1% |
| 17 | Los Angeles, CA | $47,380 | 113.6 | $41,708 | −1% |
| 18 | St. Louis, MO | $39,110 | 95.1 | $41,125 | −3% |
| 19 | Nashville, TN | $39,510 | 96.3 | $41,028 | −3% |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $42,770 | 104.5 | $40,928 | −3% |
| 21 | Charlotte, NC | $39,430 | 97.3 | $40,524 | −4% |
| 22 | Detroit, MI | $39,900 | 100.3 | $39,781 | −6% |
| 23 | Atlanta, GA | $39,350 | 100.1 | $39,311 | −7% |
| 24 | Austin, TX | $38,550 | 98.1 | $39,297 | −7% |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | $36,800 | 94.7 | $38,860 | −8% |
| 26 | Houston, TX | $37,970 | 98.6 | $38,509 | −9% |
| 27 | Dallas, TX | $38,530 | 103.1 | $37,371 | −12% |
| 28 | Orlando, FL | $37,690 | 101.4 | $37,170 | −12% |
| 29 | Tampa, FL | $37,470 | 100.9 | $37,136 | −12% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $38,010 | 114.2 | $33,284 | −21% |
U.S. median for nursing assistant (cna)s: $42,260. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Nursing Assistants, SOC 31-1131); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.