CNA Salary

Salisbury vs Towson: Certified Nursing Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare certified nursing assistant salaries between Salisbury, MD and Towson, MD. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salisbury, MD
$41,258
$19.83/hr
Towson, MD
$45,373
$21.81/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalisbury, MDTowson, MD
Median Salary$41,258$45,373
Hourly Rate$19.83$21.81
Entry Level (P10)$37,637$38,139
25th Percentile$39,703$40,940
75th Percentile$49,341$51,485
Top Earner (P90)$49,341$56,554
Total Employed83011
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salisbury ($41,258) and Towson ($45,373) certified nursing assistant salaries.SalisburyTowsonMedian Salary$41,258$45,373Entry Level (P10)$37,637$38,139Top Earner (P90)$49,341$56,554US Median $45,007

Verdict

Towson, MD offers better overall compensation for certified nursing assistants, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Salisbury.

The salary gap between Salisbury and Towson is $4,115 (9.97%). Towson's median is +0.81% compared to the US national median of $45,007.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salisbury spans $11,704,Towson spans $18,415. Towson has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced certified nursing assistants.

Salisbury
P10 (Entry)$37,637
P25$39,703
Median$41,258
P75$49,341
P90 (Top)$49,341
Towson
P10 (Entry)$38,139
P25$40,940
Median$45,373
P75$51,485
P90 (Top)$56,554

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salisbury ($43,149 effective) pays 3.94% more than Towson ($41,512 effective).

Salisbury
Nominal: $41,258
CoL Index: 95.617
Adjusted: $43,149
Towson
Nominal: $45,373
CoL Index: 109.3
Adjusted: $41,512

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salisbury if…

  • Larger job market (830 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $43,149)
  • You prefer the Maryland area and lifestyle

Choose Towson if…

  • Higher median salary ($45,373/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($56,554)
  • You prefer the Maryland area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, certified nursing assistant salaries in Salisbury grew 32.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 1.3% growth in Towson over the same period.

Salisbury, MD

+32.3%

$29,280 (2019) → $38,740 (2025)

Towson, MD

+1.3%

$42,037 (2024) → $42,604 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays certified nursing assistants more: Salisbury or Towson?

Towson has a higher median certified nursing assistant salary at $45,373/year, compared to Salisbury at $41,258/year — a difference of $4,115 (9.97%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salisbury and Towson?

Salisbury certified nursing assistants earn $19.83/hr while Towson hygienists earn $21.81/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salisbury to Towson as a certified nursing assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salisbury and Towson. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salisbury = $43,149, Towson = $41,512), job availability (830 vs 11 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level certified nursing assistants earn in Salisbury vs Towson?

Entry-level (10th percentile) certified nursing assistants earn $37,637 in Salisbury and $38,139 in Towson. The Towson area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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Written by Emily Chen, BSN, RN

Career Analyst

Emily has over 10 years of experience in nursing. She focuses on workforce trends in nursing. Emily has worked in various healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Rodriguez, CNAData verified by Sara Patel, RN

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 6.50% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Emily Chen, BSN, RN, a licensed certified nursing assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov