Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131) employed 1,448,910 people in May 2025. The median pay is $42,260 a year ($20.32 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,940 and the highest-paid 10% more than $51,980. BLS projects its employment to change by +2.6% between 2025 and 2035 (about 196,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: Oregon ($49,830), Washington ($49,180), New York ($48,590). Most jobs: California (110,060), Florida (96,960), Texas (88,680).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| 25th percentile | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Median | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Mean | $42,700 | $20.53 |
| 75th percentile | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $51,980 | $24.99 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 1,505,900 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 1,544,900 |
| Change in jobs | 39,000 |
| Percent change | +2.6% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 196,200 |
| Self-employed share | 1.8% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25,250 | 1.28 | $34,140 | $28,330 | $38,680 | -19% | 38% |
| Alaska | 2,060 | 0.68 | $46,370 | $39,450 | $58,430 | +10% | 37% |
| Arizona | 20,320 | 0.67 | $44,780 | $37,100 | $57,820 | +6% | 45% |
| Arkansas | 17,260 | 1.42 | $34,430 | $28,840 | $39,020 | -19% | 34% |
| California | 110,060 | 0.65 | $47,630 | $40,110 | $61,100 | +13% | 53% |
| Colorado | 22,240 | 0.83 | $47,380 | $38,690 | $56,070 | +12% | 46% |
| Connecticut | 21,380 | 1.35 | $44,790 | $38,660 | $53,870 | +6% | 42% |
| Delaware | 5,530 | 1.22 | $42,030 | $36,530 | $48,080 | -1% | 44% |
| District of Columbia | 3,490 | 0.53 | $47,700 | $38,900 | $57,500 | +13% | 49% |
| Florida | 96,960 | 1.05 | $37,510 | $34,350 | $46,790 | -11% | 58% |
| Georgia | 43,440 | 0.95 | $37,680 | $30,300 | $47,310 | -11% | 48% |
| Hawaii | 5,050 | 0.86 | $45,350 | $36,000 | $52,660 | +7% | 51% |
| Idaho | 7,910 | 0.99 | $38,650 | $28,380 | $47,430 | -9% | 43% |
| Illinois | 68,640 | 1.21 | $45,960 | $37,590 | $54,050 | +9% | 35% |
| Indiana | 33,640 | 1.13 | $38,330 | $35,390 | $46,890 | -9% | 35% |
| Iowa | 22,670 | 1.56 | $39,350 | $35,620 | $47,980 | -7% | 30% |
| Kansas | 24,610 | 1.84 | $38,010 | $32,180 | $46,980 | -10% | 34% |
| Kentucky | 23,410 | 1.26 | $38,370 | $30,390 | $46,450 | -9% | 31% |
| Louisiana | 20,690 | 1.15 | $30,510 | $27,980 | $37,390 | -28% | 42% |
| Maine | 8,540 | 1.43 | $47,070 | $39,100 | $58,120 | +11% | 31% |
| Maryland | 27,720 | 1.08 | $43,240 | $36,060 | $49,330 | +2% | 48% |
| Massachusetts | 38,130 | 1.13 | $46,680 | $39,380 | $57,880 | +10% | 48% |
| Michigan | 43,290 | 1.05 | $39,570 | $36,830 | $46,740 | -6% | 35% |
| Minnesota | 29,120 | 1.06 | $46,680 | $38,010 | $55,410 | +10% | 33% |
| Mississippi | 14,200 | 1.31 | $31,520 | $27,050 | $38,290 | -25% | 38% |
| Missouri | 34,050 | 1.24 | $37,680 | $31,350 | $45,260 | -11% | 34% |
| Montana | 4,390 | 0.92 | $40,900 | $36,780 | $49,700 | -3% | 35% |
| Nebraska | 16,450 | 1.72 | $40,000 | $37,090 | $48,980 | -5% | 33% |
| Nevada | 8,100 | 0.56 | $45,490 | $36,940 | $50,680 | +8% | 45% |
| New Hampshire | 7,810 | 1.23 | $47,870 | $39,140 | $59,660 | +13% | 39% |
| New Jersey | 32,400 | 0.81 | $46,830 | $38,900 | $55,140 | +11% | 46% |
| New Mexico | 4,750 | 0.59 | $39,390 | $34,110 | $48,340 | -7% | 34% |
| New York | 87,990 | 0.97 | $48,590 | $38,450 | $59,890 | +15% | 40% |
| North Carolina | 64,010 | 1.39 | $38,460 | $30,260 | $47,080 | -9% | 42% |
| North Dakota | 6,840 | 1.71 | $45,820 | $35,130 | $51,380 | +8% | 26% |
| Ohio | 63,280 | 1.22 | $39,010 | $35,060 | $46,570 | -8% | 34% |
| Oklahoma | 19,410 | 1.22 | $35,930 | $29,630 | $42,870 | -15% | 35% |
| Oregon | 14,800 | 0.81 | $49,830 | $43,210 | $61,310 | +18% | 38% |
| Pennsylvania | 67,740 | 1.20 | $44,590 | $37,760 | $49,360 | +6% | 34% |
| Rhode Island | 10,220 | 2.19 | $46,440 | $39,220 | $54,950 | +10% | 37% |
| South Carolina | 21,760 | 1.01 | $37,220 | $30,460 | $44,760 | -12% | 41% |
| South Dakota | 6,860 | 1.61 | $38,800 | $31,110 | $46,100 | -8% | 31% |
| Tennessee | 27,040 | 0.89 | $37,990 | $31,110 | $44,660 | -10% | 41% |
| Texas | 88,680 | 0.68 | $37,500 | $30,620 | $47,500 | -11% | 47% |
| Utah | 12,260 | 0.76 | $39,840 | $34,870 | $47,080 | -6% | 48% |
| Vermont | 3,030 | 1.07 | $47,130 | $37,620 | $59,600 | +12% | 34% |
| Virginia | 40,580 | 1.06 | $43,200 | $31,560 | $50,980 | +2% | 46% |
| Washington | 30,270 | 0.91 | $49,180 | $42,500 | $62,660 | +16% | 45% |
| West Virginia | 9,390 | 1.44 | $36,720 | $31,060 | $45,290 | -13% | 29% |
| Wisconsin | 28,370 | 1.04 | $45,130 | $37,900 | $50,650 | +7% | 30% |
| Wyoming | 2,830 | 1.08 | $39,160 | $33,390 | $49,610 | -7% | 31% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 5,350 | $56,840 | $47,340 | $77,040 | 0.51 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 11,790 | $56,080 | $46,700 | $70,540 | 0.53 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 16,530 | $51,990 | $46,060 | $67,280 | 0.85 |
| Napa, CA | 460 | $50,370 | $42,020 | $63,080 | 0.64 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 8,890 | $50,350 | $43,980 | $61,170 | 0.79 |
| Bend, OR | 620 | $50,080 | $45,440 | $58,710 | 0.62 |
| Boulder, CO | 1,030 | $49,860 | $41,140 | $57,080 | 0.58 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 420 | $49,770 | $42,970 | $62,300 | 1.48 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 79,480 | $49,270 | $43,240 | $60,530 | 0.90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,250 | $49,240 | $42,610 | $58,550 | 0.65 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 850 | $49,160 | $42,070 | $57,270 | 0.97 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 10,350 | $49,110 | $41,910 | $57,460 | 0.69 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 500 | $49,020 | $41,320 | $59,040 | 1.01 |
| Vallejo, CA | 940 | $48,900 | $40,320 | $62,550 | 0.70 |
| Vineland, NJ | 770 | $48,890 | $37,950 | $53,410 | 1.32 |
| Salinas, CA | 1,070 | $48,870 | $39,900 | $57,040 | 0.62 |
| Salem, OR | 1,390 | $48,840 | $44,960 | $62,300 | 0.79 |
| Corvallis, OR | 340 | $48,830 | $39,760 | $60,960 | 0.95 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 690 | $48,570 | $41,480 | $60,230 | 1.55 |
| Albany, OR | 530 | $48,550 | $40,980 | $60,470 | 1.21 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 1,030 | $48,520 | $38,860 | $63,860 | 1.17 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 440 | $48,520 | $42,350 | $61,580 | 0.91 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 1,540 | $48,320 | $40,530 | $61,310 | 1.05 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1,060 | $48,190 | $40,560 | $60,420 | 0.94 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 3,380 | $48,180 | $41,280 | $58,790 | 1.26 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 9,670 | $48,070 | $40,420 | $60,510 | 0.67 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 1,060 | $48,060 | $39,520 | $57,090 | 0.88 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1,040 | $48,060 | $40,510 | $57,450 | 0.85 |
| Bellingham, WA | 790 | $48,040 | $42,910 | $59,040 | 0.93 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 14,590 | $48,020 | $39,510 | $56,090 | 0.80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 440 | $47,940 | $39,110 | $57,720 | 0.48 |
| Medford, OR | 1,000 | $47,890 | $43,480 | $59,380 | 1.21 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 440 | $47,830 | $39,200 | $59,010 | 1.14 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 330 | $47,630 | $39,260 | $56,830 | 0.47 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 26,130 | $47,590 | $40,190 | $59,450 | 1.04 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 5,650 | $47,510 | $39,470 | $61,240 | 0.56 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 43,090 | $47,380 | $40,050 | $61,100 | 0.74 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 2,780 | $47,240 | $38,290 | $59,140 | 1.17 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,090 | $47,130 | $40,120 | $55,890 | 0.58 |
| Yakima, WA | 1,320 | $47,080 | $40,030 | $48,510 | 1.46 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 520 | $47,050 | $38,340 | $48,990 | 0.91 |
| Bangor, ME | 1,110 | $46,970 | $38,920 | $60,220 | 1.65 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 45,850 | $46,940 | $38,980 | $54,450 | 1.09 |
| Carson City, NV | 340 | $46,880 | $39,980 | $57,350 | 1.15 |
| Rochester, MN | 1,550 | $46,840 | $38,340 | $53,820 | 1.35 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 610 | $46,840 | $39,730 | $55,650 | 0.53 |
| Visalia, CA | 1,530 | $46,810 | $38,740 | $55,120 | 0.96 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 2,070 | $46,800 | $39,540 | $58,560 | 0.69 |
| Reno, NV | 1,430 | $46,760 | $37,540 | $51,640 | 0.56 |
| Bismarck, ND | 1,430 | $46,720 | $36,040 | $49,120 | 2.15 |
| Greeley, CO | 700 | $46,670 | $38,240 | $50,160 | 0.63 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 810 | $46,620 | $38,190 | $52,890 | 1.53 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,500 | $46,550 | $38,390 | $58,150 | 0.82 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 410 | $46,530 | $35,920 | $57,210 | 0.72 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 2,560 | $46,530 | $39,250 | $56,380 | 0.95 |
| Mankato, MN | 930 | $46,430 | $41,500 | $56,770 | 1.77 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 9,940 | $46,430 | $38,950 | $55,840 | 0.62 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 2,410 | $46,400 | $37,910 | $57,860 | 1.29 |
| Chico, CA | 790 | $46,380 | $38,860 | $56,620 | 1.09 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 13,030 | $46,330 | $39,220 | $54,880 | 1.96 |
The median is $42,260 a year ($20.32 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $33,940 and the highest-paid tenth over $51,980 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
1,448,910 in May 2025, and BLS projects +2.6% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
Oregon, with a median of $49,830 (among states with published figures).