Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Huntington, WV: $39,554 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time certified nursing assistant in Huntington, WV earns a median $39,554/year (≈ $19.02/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-1131). Once you factor in Huntington's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.4), that paycheck buys what $44,733 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.5% above the West Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the median annual salary for certified nursing assistants in Huntington, West Virginia, is projected to be $39,554, reflecting a reset in wages following the post-COVID labor market adjustments. This compensation is notably lower than the national median of $45,007, marking a difference of 12.12%. The salary range for certified nursing assistants in this area is between $31,524 at the 10th percentile to $48,351 at the 90th percentile, based on official BLS OEWS surveys. Those working in this field can expect a median hourly wage of $19.02, illustrating the local market's response to an increased demand for healthcare support roles post-pandemic and the overall growth rate of 6.50% for the certified nursing assistant profession.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,524 | $15.15 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $34,304 | $16.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $39,554 | $19.02 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $40,907 | $19.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $48,351 | $23.25 |
Median Salary Position
12.12% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Huntington
In Huntington, WV, the certified nursing assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $16,827 (2026 est.). At $39,554, the local median is 12.12% below the national median of $45,007.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Huntington: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Huntington Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Compares
Huntington median: $39,554/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Huntington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Average | $38,589 | +2.50% more |
| National Average | $45,007 | -12.12% less |
Certified Nursing Assistants in Huntington, WV earn a median of $39,554 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.12% lower than the national median of $45,007 and 2.50% above the West Virginia state average of $38,589.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Huntington has a cost of living 11.58% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Huntington, WV has a cost-of-living index of 88.422 (below the national average of 100). A certified nursing assistant earning $39,554 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $44,733 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.09% boost.
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
$26,200
2025 BLS Actual
$37,140
2026 Current Est.
$39,554
2019–2027 Growth
+60.8%
Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in Huntington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26,200 | Actual |
| 2020 | $26,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $29,160 | Actual |
| 2022 | $29,930 | Actual |
| 2023 | $35,190 | Actual |
| 2024 | $35,910 | Actual |
| 2025 | $37,140 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39,554 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $42,125 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Huntington metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 41.8% from $26,200 (2019) to $37,140 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $42,125 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,925 (60.78%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Huntington 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) | $31,524 – $34,304 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $34,304 – $39,554 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $39,554 – $40,907 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $40,907 – $48,351 |
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 Huntington
The local job market in Huntington currently employs about 1,950 certified nursing assistants, indicating a robust demand in the healthcare sector. With a cost-of-living index of 88.422, which is below the national average, this provides a relatively favorable environment for job seekers, though it still places pressure on overall purchasing power. Among local employers, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals typically offer the highest wages, especially for roles in medical-surgical units and intensive care units. The significant pay spread can be attributed to numerous factors, including shift differentials that reward evening and weekend work, the provision of agency premium pay during shortages, and extra stipends for certified medication aides. For those looking to maximize certified nursing assistant pay in Huntington, seeking agencies that offer weekend-only roles or exploring higher-acuity facilities could be advantageous. Furthermore, pursuing certification pathways that transition into LPN or RN roles could significantly enhance earning potential over the long term.
More salary data for Huntington, WV:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do certified nursing assistants make in Huntington, WV in 2026?
Is Huntington, WV a good place to work as a certified nursing assistant?
Can certified nursing assistants make $100K in Huntington?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted certified nursing assistant salary in Huntington?
How much does a certified nursing assistant make per hour in Huntington?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in West Virginia
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 $37,140 for certified nursing assistantsin the Huntington 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