Salary · NC · SOC 31-1131

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary in North Carolina, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for nursing assistants in North Carolina, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for nursing assistants in North Carolina was $38,460 a year, or $18.49 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $30,260 to $47,080. About 64,010 were employed.

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in North Carolina vs the US

Certified Nursing Assistant wages in North Carolina and the US, May 2025
Measure	NC annual	NC hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$38,460	$18.49	$42,260
Mean (average)	$39,280	$18.89	$42,700
10th percentile	$30,260	$14.55	$33,940
25th percentile	$35,950	$17.28	$37,260
75th percentile	$43,850	$21.08	$47,220
90th percentile	$47,080	$22.64	$51,980

Employment in North Carolina: 64,010. Location quotient: 1.39 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Certified Nursing Assistant salary by metro area in North Carolina

Certified Nursing Assistant median wage by metro area, North Carolina
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$39,430	$18.96	13,580
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$39,710	$19.09	6,420
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$38,260	$18.39	5,280
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$40,560	$19.50	4,830
Winston-Salem, NC	$38,660	$18.59	4,450
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$37,430	$18.00	2,780
Asheville, NC	$40,170	$19.31	2,590
Wilmington, NC	$37,710	$18.13	2,390
Fayetteville, NC	$37,530	$18.05	2,130
Greenville, NC	$39,480	$18.98	1,730
Burlington, NC	$39,090	$18.79	1,020
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	$36,930	$17.76	950
Rocky Mount, NC	$37,650	$18.10	940
Goldsboro, NC	$38,540	$18.53	600
Jacksonville, NC	$35,880	$17.25	530
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$38,990	$18.75	8,110

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Certified Nursing Assistant salary in North Carolina

Median pay: $38,460 a year ($18.49 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $30,260 to $47,080 a year

Employed: 64,010

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Certified Nursing Assistant salary in North Carolina</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$38,460</strong> a year ($18.49 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $30,260 to $47,080 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 64,010</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/certified-nursing-assistant/nc" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a CNA make per hour in North Carolina?

The median hourly wage was $18.49 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $14.55 and the 90th was $22.64.

What is the average CNA salary in North Carolina?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $39,280 a year and a median of $38,460 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do nursing assistants in North Carolina earn more than the US median?

The North Carolina median of $38,460 is 9% lower than the US median of $42,260 (BLS, May 2025).

How does North Carolina rank for certified nursing assistant pay?

North Carolina ranks 36 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for nursing assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-1131. BLS reports CNAs as Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). Figures BLS did not publish are left out.