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Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for certified nursing assistants? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for certified nursing assistant jobs.We wanted to look at the best states for certified nursing assistants -- where there are plenty of certified nursing assistant jobs to go around and certified nursing assistants get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for certified nursing assistants.Maine is the best state, and Waipahu is the city with the highest pay for certified nursing assistants.
10 best states for certified nursing assistants in 2024
1. Maine
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
902 Average Annual Salary: $38,575 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $29,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.67Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Maine
2. New Hampshire
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
864 Average Annual Salary: $37,696 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $28,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.22Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in New Hampshire
3. Pennsylvania
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
7,673 Average Annual Salary: $33,411 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $24,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.62Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Pennsylvania
4. Vermont
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
268 Average Annual Salary: $40,762 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $30,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 0.86Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Vermont
5. Rhode Island
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
476 Average Annual Salary: $35,490 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $26,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0.96Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Rhode Island
6. Massachusetts
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
3,725 Average Annual Salary: $36,900 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $27,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 1Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Massachusetts
7. Washington
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
3,221 Average Annual Salary: $36,232 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $27,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.09Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Washington
8. New Jersey
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
3,790 Average Annual Salary: $35,230 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $26,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.18Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in New Jersey
9. Oregon
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
1,822 Average Annual Salary: $35,586 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $26,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.08Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Oregon
10. Alaska
Total Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs:
246 Average Annual Salary: $42,735 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 0.73Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Alaska
Certified Nursing Assistant JobsNear Ashburn, VA
How Zippia determines the best states to be a certified nursing assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated
here.
Detailed list of the best states for a certified nursing assistant
| Rank | State | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $38,575 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 902 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $37,696 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 864 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $33,411 | $24,000 | 12,805,537 | 7,673 |
| 4 | Vermont | $40,762 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 268 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $35,490 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 476 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $36,900 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,725 |
| 7 | Washington | $36,232 | $27,000 | 7,405,743 | 3,221 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $35,230 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,790 |
| 9 | Oregon | $35,586 | $26,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,822 |
| 10 | Alaska | $42,735 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 246 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $34,189 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,663 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $45,187 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 207 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $32,207 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,514 |
| 14 | Michigan | $31,632 | $23,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,797 |
| 15 | New York | $35,584 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 5,878 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $32,324 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 3,143 |
| 17 | Indiana | $30,924 | $23,000 | 6,666,818 | 3,666 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $32,143 | $24,000 | 755,393 | 341 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $31,749 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 839 |
| 20 | Ohio | $30,710 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 4,765 |
| 21 | Nevada | $33,337 | $24,000 | 2,998,039 | 538 |
| 22 | Montana | $31,162 | $23,000 | 1,050,493 | 551 |
| 23 | Delaware | $33,587 | $24,000 | 961,939 | 375 |
| 24 | Arizona | $31,418 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,299 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $31,858 | $23,000 | 579,315 | 124 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $29,142 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 720 |
| 27 | Illinois | $31,442 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,596 |
| 28 | Iowa | $29,614 | $22,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,464 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $29,208 | $21,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,638 |
| 30 | California | $34,156 | $25,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,222 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $29,933 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 394 |
| 32 | Idaho | $30,836 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 575 |
| 33 | Maryland | $31,174 | $23,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,266 |
| 34 | Missouri | $29,187 | $21,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,466 |
| 35 | Kansas | $29,224 | $21,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,181 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $27,747 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 2,713 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $29,669 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 791 |
| 38 | Utah | $30,522 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 799 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $27,842 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 4,407 |
| 40 | Virginia | $30,998 | $22,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,863 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $31,562 | $23,000 | 693,972 | 201 |
| 42 | Florida | $27,476 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 7,356 |
| 43 | Colorado | $30,603 | $22,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,006 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,851 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,177 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $25,978 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,823 |
| 46 | Texas | $27,265 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 7,677 |
| 47 | Alabama | $27,943 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,231 |
| 48 | Georgia | $26,394 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 3,999 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $26,863 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 871 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $25,719 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 1,202 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $25,164 | $18,000 | 2,984,100 | 669 |
Highest paying states for certified nursing assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Certified Nursing Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $38,575 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $37,696 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $33,411 |
| 4 | Vermont | $40,762 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $35,490 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $36,900 |
| 7 | Washington | $36,232 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $35,230 |
| 9 | Oregon | $35,586 |
| 10 | Alaska | $42,735 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $34,189 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $45,187 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $32,207 |
| 14 | Michigan | $31,632 |
| 15 | New York | $35,584 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $32,324 |
| 17 | Indiana | $30,924 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $32,143 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $31,749 |
| 20 | Ohio | $30,710 |
| 21 | Nevada | $33,337 |
| 22 | Montana | $31,162 |
| 23 | Delaware | $33,587 |
| 24 | Arizona | $31,418 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $31,858 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $29,142 |
| 27 | Illinois | $31,442 |
| 28 | Iowa | $29,614 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $29,208 |
| 30 | California | $34,156 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $29,933 |
| 32 | Idaho | $30,836 |
| 33 | Maryland | $31,174 |
| 34 | Missouri | $29,187 |
| 35 | Kansas | $29,224 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $27,747 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $29,669 |
| 38 | Utah | $30,522 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $27,842 |
| 40 | Virginia | $30,998 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $31,562 |
| 42 | Florida | $27,476 |
| 43 | Colorado | $30,603 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,851 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $25,978 |
| 46 | Texas | $27,265 |
| 47 | Alabama | $27,943 |
| 48 | Georgia | $26,394 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $26,863 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $25,719 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $25,164 |
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Expert opinions on the best states for certified nursing assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Nurse Technicians to find work opportunities?
Shelly Wells Ph.D.
Chair and Professor of Nursing, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Nurses continue to be in high demand throughout the nation. While new graduate nurses may not be able to find their dream "no weekends, day shift position in their favorite specialty" right out of school, there are opportunities abound for the new nurse to build their skills to prepare for that dream position. The demand for nurses in community-based agencies is increasing. Nurses who have completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree find expanded leadership opportunities, public health, and non-traditional nursing positions. One does not have to live in or near a large city to find a chance to work as a registered nurse as there are countless positions in rural America waiting for the right graduate nurses.
Certified Nursing Assistant best states FAQs
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Updated July 21, 2023
