Nursing Assistant Salary (2026): How Much Do Nursing Assistants Make?

National and state-by-state median wages · BLS OEWS data · Updated August 12, 2026

National Median$41,878
Per Hour$20.13
Total Jobs$1,448,920
Highest Paying StateOregon

Nursing Assistant Salary by State (All 50 States + DC)

#StateMedian Annual Salaryvs. NationalJobs
1Oregon$49,830▲ 19%$14,800
2Washington$49,180▲ 17%$30,270
3New York$48,590▲ 16%$87,990
4New Hampshire$47,870▲ 14%$7,810
5District of Columbia$47,700▲ 14%$3,490
6California$47,630▲ 14%$110,060
7Colorado$47,380▲ 13%$22,240
8Vermont$47,130▲ 13%$3,030
9Maine$47,070▲ 12%$8,540
10New Jersey$46,830▲ 12%$32,400
11Massachusetts$46,680▲ 11%$38,130
12Minnesota$46,680▲ 11%$29,120
13Rhode Island$46,440▲ 11%$10,220
14Alaska$46,370▲ 11%$2,060
15Illinois$45,960▲ 10%$68,640
16North Dakota$45,820▲ 9%$6,840
17Nevada$45,490▲ 9%$8,100
18Hawaii$45,350▲ 8%$5,050
19Wisconsin$45,130▲ 8%$28,370
20Connecticut$44,790▲ 7%$21,380
21Arizona$44,780▲ 7%$20,320
22Pennsylvania$44,590▲ 6%$67,740
23Maryland$43,240▲ 3%$27,720
24Virginia$43,200▲ 3%$40,580
25Delaware$42,030▲ 0%$5,530
26Montana$40,900▼ 2%$4,390
27Nebraska$40,000▼ 4%$16,450
28Utah$39,840▼ 5%$12,260
29Michigan$39,570▼ 6%$43,290
30New Mexico$39,390▼ 6%$4,750
31Iowa$39,350▼ 6%$22,670
32Wyoming$39,160▼ 6%$2,830
33Ohio$39,010▼ 7%$63,280
34South Dakota$38,800▼ 7%$6,860
35Idaho$38,650▼ 8%$7,910
36North Carolina$38,460▼ 8%$64,010
37Kentucky$38,370▼ 8%$23,410
38Indiana$38,330▼ 8%$33,640
39Kansas$38,010▼ 9%$24,610
40Tennessee$37,990▼ 9%$27,040
41Georgia$37,680▼ 10%$43,440
42Missouri$37,680▼ 10%$34,050
43Florida$37,510▼ 10%$96,960
44Texas$37,500▼ 10%$88,680
45South Carolina$37,220▼ 11%$21,760
46West Virginia$36,720▼ 12%$9,390
47Oklahoma$35,930▼ 14%$19,410
48Arkansas$34,430▼ 18%$17,260
49Alabama$34,140▼ 18%$25,250
50Mississippi$31,520▼ 25%$14,200
51Louisiana$30,510▼ 27%$20,690

FAQ

How much does a Nursing Assistant make?

The national median annual salary for nursing assistants is $41,878, about $20.13 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.

What state pays nursing assistants the most?

Oregon tops the list at $49,830 per year.

What state pays nursing assistants the least?

Louisiana has the lowest median at $30,510.

How much does a Nursing Assistant make per hour?

At the national median, nursing assistants earn about $20.13 per hour (based on a 2,080-hour work year).

Where are the most nursing assistants employed?

The table above shows total jobs per state; states with the largest numbers of nursing assistants include California.