Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in El Centro, CA: $47,574 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time certified nursing assistant in El Centro, CA earns a median $47,574/year (≈ $22.88/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-1131). Once you factor in El Centro's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.2), that paycheck buys what $49,986 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.6% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, a certified nursing assistant salary in El Centro, California, is projected to reach a median of $47,574 per year, indicating a strong post-COVID wage reset in a market that is now more competitive for healthcare workers. The salary range for this role varies from $39,703 at the 10th percentile to $50,257 at the 90th percentile, with substantial variation reflecting experience, work setting, and additional shifts taken on. These figures are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys and suggest El Centro’s job market is structured for growth, especially with an annual 6.50% growth rate forecasted over the next five years. As certified nursing assistants play an essential role in healthcare provisioning, the wage trends represent not only local economic shifts but also a broader adaptation to increased demand for skilled patient care.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,703 | $19.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41,343 | $19.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $47,574 | $22.88 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $50,098 | $24.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50,257 | $24.16 |
Median Salary Position
5.70% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in El Centro
In El Centro, CA, the certified nursing assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $10,554 (2026 est.). At $47,574, the local median is 5.7% above the national median of $45,007.
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At 40 hours/week in El Centro: You'd be in the upper quartile
How El Centro Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Compares
El Centro median: $47,574/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | El Centro Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $49,867 | -4.60% less |
| National Average | $45,007 | +5.70% more |
Certified Nursing Assistants in El Centro, CA earn a median of $47,574 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.70% higher than the national median of $45,007 and 4.60% below the California state average of $49,867.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
El Centro has a cost of living 4.83% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
El Centro, CA has a cost-of-living index of 95.174 (below the national average of 100). A certified nursing assistant earning $47,574 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $49,986 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.07% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$26,480
2025 BLS Actual
$44,670
2026 Current Est.
$47,574
2019–2027 Growth
+91.3%
Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in El Centro (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26,480 | Actual |
| 2020 | $42,120 | Actual |
| 2021 | $35,740 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $44,640 | Actual |
| 2024 | $41,784 | Actual |
| 2025 | $44,670 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $47,574 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $50,666 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the El Centro metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 68.7% from $26,480 (2019) to $44,670 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $50,666 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,186 (91.34%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the El Centro metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 6.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $39,703 – $41,343 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $41,343 – $47,574 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $47,574 – $50,098 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $50,098 – $50,257 |
CNA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual certified nursing assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Certified Nursing Assistant Job Market in El Centro
The local job market in El Centro employs approximately 240 certified nursing assistants, a metric that highlights a dedicated workforce catering to the community's healthcare needs. With a cost-of-living index at 95.174, the purchasing power in this market allows CNAs to maintain a reasonable quality of life, particularly when factoring in recent wage increases. Employers such as skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals tend to offer the highest pay among local settings, especially for those who are willing to take on night shifts, which often include a premium of $2-4 per hour. To maximize earnings in this specific market, it's beneficial to pursue certification advancements, such as CMA certification stipends, or to seek roles with weekend-only shifts that may provide higher rates. Positioning oneself in more challenging settings, such as ICU or hospice, can also drive higher compensation due to the acuity levels involved. Understanding these dynamics is vital for those looking to enhance their certified nursing assistant pay in El Centro, CA.
More salary data for El Centro, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $44,670 for certified nursing assistantsin the El Centro metropolitan area. A 6.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for certified nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131).
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