California ranks 5th of 51 states and D.C. for nursing assistants pay, trailing top-paying Oregon ($48,390) by $1,970 — a 4% gap.
Nursing Assistants are less concentrated in California than the U.S. average — a location quotient of 0.63 means the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.59× below the national share.
California employs roughly 7.4% of all nursing assistants in the country (102,380 workers).
Salary Range: 10th to 90th Percentile
Full Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| 25th percentile | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| 75th percentile | $50,540 | $24.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,540 | $28.63 |
| Mean (average) | $48,790 | $23.46 |
How California Compares
| State | Median Annual | vs. California |
|---|---|---|
| California (current) | $46,420 | n/a |
| Oregon | $48,390 | +4% |
| Washington | $48,260 | +4% |
| New York | $47,390 | +2% |
| District of Columbia | $46,860 | +1% |
| New Hampshire | $46,050 | -1% |
| Alaska | $45,840 | -1% |
| Maine | $45,640 | -2% |
| Minnesota | $45,580 | -2% |
Showing top-paying states with available data. View all states →
Related Occupations in California
| Occupation | Median Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks | $46,540 | 14,010 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,590 | 4,480 |
| Order Clerks | $46,620 | 13,240 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,140 | 124,240 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $46,120 | 31,850 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $46,720 | 38,580 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Nursing Assistants salary in California?
The mean nursing assistants salary in California is $48,790 per year. The median (middle) salary is $46,420 per year.
What is the starting salary for a Nursing Assistants in California?
Entry-level nursing assistantss (10th percentile) in California typically earn around $39,220 per year. Workers at the 25th percentile earn approximately $44,350 per year.
What is the highest Nursing Assistants salary in California?
Top earners (90th percentile) in this occupation in California make approximately $59,540 per year. Those in the 75th percentile earn around $50,540 per year.
How does the California Nursing Assistants salary compare to the national average?
The median nursing assistants salary in California is $46,420, which is +17% above national average of $39,530.