CNA Salary in Washington State: Wages by City, Setting, and Shift

Certified nursing assistants in Washington earn more than the national average, and the gap has widened as the state's minimum wage has climbed and long-term care employers have competed for staff. In 2026, job-posting data puts the statewide average for nursing assistants at roughly $23 to $24 per hour, with the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro and Everett at the top of the range and rural counties in the low $20s. Facility shift differentials, overtime, and agency work can push effective hourly pay several dollars higher.

This guide lays out what the numbers actually look like, why they vary so much from one job to the next, and what a new graduate can do to start at the higher end.

Statewide picture

Two kinds of data describe CNA pay, and they tell slightly different stories.

• Government survey data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) measures what employers report paying. It is authoritative but lags by a year or more. Its most recent Washington figures for nursing assistants placed the statewide mean around $20 to $21 per hour, with the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue metro above $21, at a time when the national mean was about $17.40. The May 2025 release shows healthcare support occupations in the Seattle metro averaging $25.96 per hour against $19.62 nationally, which reflects how far Washington sits above the country as a whole.
• Job-posting data measures what employers advertise now. Indeed's Washington data, updated August 2026 from several thousand postings, reports an average of about $23.62 per hour for nursing assistants, with Everett ($24.89), Seattle ($23.80), and Kirkland ($23.73) at the top.

The difference between the two sources is mostly time: advertised wages have risen faster than survey data can capture. For a job seeker, the posting data is the better guide to offers you will actually see.

Pay by region

Ranges are approximate and drawn from current postings; a specific offer depends on setting, shift, experience, and whether the position is unionized.

Pay by setting

Where you work matters as much as where you live.

Hospitals generally pay the most for CNAs (often titled nursing assistants, patient care technicians, or hospital aides). Union contracts at large systems in the Puget Sound region set step scales that start above $23 and climb with years of service. Hospitals also tend to offer the best benefits. The trade-off is that many hospitals prefer candidates with some experience or an acute-care skill set.

Skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes hire the most new graduates and are where Washington's staffing shortage is felt most. Base pay is typically in the $21 to $25 range in the Puget Sound area, but differentials for evening, night, and weekend shifts are common and can add $1.50 to $4 per hour. Many facilities pay sign-on bonuses and tuition reimbursement.

Assisted living and memory care communities pay slightly below nursing homes on average but often have calmer staffing ratios.

Home health and hospice agencies pay by the hour or per visit; experienced CNAs with reliable transportation can do well, and agencies frequently reimburse mileage.

Adult family homes vary widely. Some pay near the state minimum for live-in or overnight awake shifts; others pay competitively for dual-credentialed HCA and NAC caregivers.

Staffing agencies and per diem work pay the highest hourly rates, sometimes $30 or more, in exchange for no guaranteed hours and usually no benefits.

Shift differentials, overtime, and bonuses

Base pay is only part of the picture in facility work.

• Shift differentials. Evenings commonly add $1.50 to $3 per hour; nights $2 to $4; weekends $1 to $3. A CNA working night shifts on weekends can earn $5 or more above base.
• Overtime. Washington requires time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. Facilities short on staff offer voluntary overtime constantly; mandatory overtime for nursing home CNAs is restricted under state law.
• Bonuses. Sign-on bonuses of $1,000 to $5,000 have been common in long-term care since 2021, usually paid in installments over six to twelve months. Referral bonuses and retention bonuses are also widespread.
• Paid leave. Washington's paid sick leave law and Paid Family and Medical Leave program apply to CNAs.

How the minimum wage shapes entry pay

Washington's state minimum wage, $17.13 per hour in 2026, is among the highest in the country, and Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Bellingham, and other cities set higher local minimums. That floor pushes entry-level caregiving pay upward, which is why even lower-paying settings in Washington start well above what CNAs earn in many other states. Employers competing for the same workers as retail and warehouse jobs have had to raise CNA base rates accordingly.

How Washington compares to neighboring states

Washington CNAs generally out-earn their counterparts in Idaho, Montana, and most of the interior West by a wide margin, and modestly out-earn Oregon outside the Portland metro. Alaska and California's coastal metros can match or exceed Seattle rates, but with higher living costs. If you are deciding where to certify, Washington's combination of high wages, no continuing education requirement, and simple annual renewal makes it one of the more favorable states for nursing assistants. See our guides on transferring a certification to Washington for the endorsement process.

Raising your rate as a new CNA

1. Start where the differentials are. A night or weekend position in a skilled nursing facility often out-earns a day shift at a hospital for a new graduate.
2. Get your first year in. Most pay scales jump meaningfully at one year of experience.
3. Add endorsements and skills. The medication assistant endorsement, restorative aide training, and CPR/BLS open higher-paying roles.
4. Hold both HCA and NAC credentials if you work in adult family homes or home care; dual credentials command a premium.
5. Consider a union facility. SEIU and other union contracts publish step scales, which removes guesswork from raises.
6. Use tuition reimbursement. Many employers will pay for your LPN or RN prerequisites, which is the largest long-term raise available.

What this means for the cost of training

A four-week program at $1,100 tuition, plus about $260 in books and exam fees, is typically recovered within the first two to three weeks of full-time work at Washington wages. Compared with the national picture, the return on CNA training in Washington is among the fastest in the country.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average CNA salary in Washington State? Job-posting data in 2026 puts the average near $23.60 per hour, roughly $49,000 per year for full-time work, before differentials and overtime.

How much do CNAs make in Seattle? Advertised rates in Seattle and the Eastside cluster between $23 and $28 per hour, with union hospital scales at the upper end.

Do CNAs get paid more for night shift in Washington? Yes. Night differentials of $2 to $4 per hour are typical in nursing homes and hospitals.

How much does a new CNA make with no experience? Most new graduates in the Puget Sound area start between $21 and $24 per hour in facility positions, plus differentials.

Is CNA pay in Washington enough to live on? It is above the state minimum and above national CNA pay, but housing costs in King County are high. Many CNAs combine facility work with differentials or per diem shifts, and use CNA experience as a step toward LPN or RN training.

Ready to start earning? Compare the CNA Traditional and HCA–CNA Bridge programs, or read CNA jobs in Washington for where the hiring is.