Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Boston, MA: $50,683 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time certified nursing assistant in Boston, MA earns a median $50,683/year (≈ $24.37/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-1131). Once you factor in Boston's price level (8% above national, BEA RPP 108.3), that paycheck buys what $46,813 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% above the Massachusetts state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Boston, Massachusetts, the path from certified nursing assistant (CNA) to licensed practical nurse (LPN) remains a vital route for many in the healthcare sector. With a median annual salary of $50,683 projected for 2026, CNAs in this city earn approximately 12.61% more than their peers nationwide, where the median is $45,007. The salary range for CNAs in Boston presents a spectrum from $42,802 at the 10th percentile to $63,314 at the 90th percentile, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. This robust compensation supports not only living expenses but also encourages further professional development, especially in a market where the demand for skilled healthcare workers continues to grow rapidly.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,802 | $20.58 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47,861 | $23.01 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $50,683 | $24.37 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $53,314 | $25.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $63,314 | $30.44 |
Median Salary Position
12.61% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Boston
In Boston, MA, the certified nursing assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $20,512 (2026 est.). At $50,683, the local median is 12.61% above the national median of $45,007.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Boston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Boston Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Compares
Boston median: $50,683/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Boston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Average | $49,399 | +2.60% more |
| National Average | $45,007 | +12.61% more |
Certified Nursing Assistants in Boston, MA earn a median of $50,683 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.61% higher than the national median of $45,007 and 2.60% above the Massachusetts state average of $49,399.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Boston has a cost of living 8.27% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Boston, MA has a cost-of-living index of 108.266 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $50,683 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $46,813 — a 7.64% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$35,150
2025 BLS Actual
$47,590
2026 Current Est.
$50,683
2019–2027 Growth
+53.6%
Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in Boston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35,150 | Actual |
| 2020 | $36,840 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,680 | Actual |
| 2022 | $40,060 | Actual |
| 2023 | $45,620 | Actual |
| 2024 | $46,110 | Actual |
| 2025 | $47,590 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $50,683 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53,978 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Boston metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 35.4% from $35,150 (2019) to $47,590 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $53,978 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,828 (53.56%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Boston 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) | $42,802 – $47,861 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $47,861 – $50,683 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $50,683 – $53,314 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $53,314 – $63,314 |
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 Boston
With over 26,130 certified nursing assistants currently employed in the Boston area, the local job market displays significant resilience despite challenges posed by recent staffing crises. The cost of living index for Boston is at 108.266, indicating that expenses are higher than the national average, which impacts take-home purchasing power for health care workers. Among the highest-paying employers are skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and home health agencies, where shift differentials can further enhance earnings, especially on nights and weekends. The disparity in pay often arises from factors such as agency premium pay during shortages, CMA certification stipends, and acuity-based facility pay grades. To maximize compensation, CNAs should consider working in weekend-only premium roles or positions offering higher shift differentials. Exploring further education through bridge programs could also prove beneficial in advancing their careers while increasing earning potential in Boston's competitive healthcare landscape.
More salary data for Boston, MA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Boston, MA in 2026?
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a certified nursing assistant?
Can certified nursing assistants make $100K in Boston?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted certified nursing assistant salary in Boston?
How much does a certified nursing assistant make per hour in Boston?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Massachusetts
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 $47,590 for certified nursing assistantsin the Boston 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, 7-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