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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Nursing Assistant expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $40,736, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $28,515 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Nursing Assistant falls within the Healthcare Support sector, specifically in Healthcare Support. The typical education path involves Postsecondary certificate. The career outlook? Very high demand. Work style is clinical shift-based — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$45,150 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Nursing Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $74,200 — $45,150 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($29,050). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Nursing Assistants in 2026: $29,330 at entry (P10), $40,736 at midpoint, and $57,845 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $28,515 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $39,631 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $69,300, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $29,283. The $40,017 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Nursing Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $74,200 — $45,150 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($29,050). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The 10th-percentile (entry-level) Nursing Assistant salary averages $29,330 nationally. That's below the typical median household income, which means early-career earnings depend heavily on location and cost of living.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $29,330 | $40,736 | $57,845 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £15,828 | £21,983 | £31,216 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$24,137 | CA$33,524 | CA$47,605 |
| Australia | 13 | A$27,285 | A$37,896 | A$53,813 |
| Sweden | 24 | 166,443 kr | 231,171 kr | 328,263 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $35,400 | $49,166 | $69,816 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $34,209 | $47,513 | $67,468 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $34,020 | $47,250 | $67,095 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $31,500 | $43,750 | $62,125 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $31,122 | $43,225 | $61,380 |
| Washington | 8 | $30,524 | $42,394 | $60,199 |
| New York | 5 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| Florida | 22 | $28,510 | $39,598 | $56,229 |
| Colorado | 11 | $28,018 | $38,914 | $55,257 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $27,972 | $38,850 | $55,167 |
| Nevada | 5 | $27,922 | $38,780 | $55,068 |
| Arizona | 12 | $27,783 | $38,588 | $54,794 |
| Oregon | 5 | $27,720 | $38,500 | $54,670 |
| Idaho | 3 | $27,636 | $38,383 | $54,504 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $27,418 | $38,080 | $54,074 |
| Utah | 4 | $27,342 | $37,975 | $53,925 |
| Virginia | 7 | $26,892 | $37,350 | $53,037 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $26,544 | $36,867 | $52,351 |
| Alaska | 1 | $26,460 | $36,750 | $52,185 |
| Illinois | 5 | $26,158 | $36,330 | $51,589 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $25,508 | $35,428 | $50,307 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $25,200 | $35,000 | $49,700 |
| Montana | 1 | $25,200 | $35,000 | $49,700 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $25,116 | $34,883 | $49,534 |
| Texas | 40 | $24,992 | $34,711 | $49,290 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $24,948 | $34,650 | $49,203 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $24,822 | $34,475 | $48,955 |
| Georgia | 6 | $24,738 | $34,358 | $48,789 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $24,696 | $34,300 | $48,706 |
| Kansas | 4 | $24,570 | $34,125 | $48,458 |
| Michigan | 6 | $24,486 | $34,008 | $48,292 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
| Maryland | 1 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $23,940 | $33,250 | $47,215 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $23,940 | $33,250 | $47,215 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $23,310 | $32,375 | $45,973 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $23,184 | $32,200 | $45,724 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $22,869 | $31,763 | $45,103 |
| Missouri | 4 | $22,869 | $31,763 | $45,103 |
| Alabama | 5 | $22,781 | $31,640 | $44,929 |
| Indiana | 3 | $22,428 | $31,150 | $44,233 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $22,428 | $31,150 | $44,233 |
| Iowa | 2 | $22,176 | $30,800 | $43,736 |
| Ohio | 6 | $22,134 | $30,742 | $43,653 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $21,168 | $29,400 | $41,748 |
Geography shapes Nursing Assistant pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $49,166 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($74,200 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $35,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $74,200 | 212 | $35,000 | $47,278 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $69,300 | 198 | $35,000 | $44,483 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $64,400 | 184 | $35,000 | $41,687 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $63,350 | 181 | $35,000 | $41,088 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $62,300 | 178 | $35,000 | $40,489 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $61,950 | 177 | $35,000 | $40,289 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $61,950 | 177 | $35,000 | $40,289 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $60,550 | 173 | $35,000 | $39,491 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $60,550 | 173 | $35,000 | $39,491 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $59,150 | 169 | $35,000 | $38,692 |
The $28,515 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Nursing Assistant career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare Support sector, very high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Nursing Assistants is $40,736 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $29,330, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $57,845.
The highest-paying city for Nursing Assistants is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $74,200. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($74,200), Santa Clara ($69,300), Irvine ($64,400). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Nursing Assistant salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $29,050. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Nursing Assistants (10th percentile) average $29,330 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $53,424. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Nursing Assistants average $57,845 nationally — $28,515 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Nursing Assistants can earn up to $105,364.
The top-paying states for Nursing Assistants are California ($49,166 median), Massachusetts ($47,513 median), Hawaii ($47,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Nursing Assistant involves Postsecondary certificate. The field is in the Healthcare Support sector (Healthcare Support), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically clinical shift-based.
With a national median of $40,736 and representation across 288 metro areas, Nursing Assistant offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $28,515 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.