CNA Salary in Texas and Florida: Pay by Metro Area
In May 2025, half of the nursing assistants in Texas and Florida earned more than $18.03 an hour, and half earned less. Pay changes by metro area, and both states sit below the national median.
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The short answer
| Area | Low (10th percentile) | Median hourly | High (90th percentile) | Median yearly | Nursing assistants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $14.72 | $18.03 | $22.84 | $37,500 | 88,680 |
| Florida | $16.52 | $18.03 | $22.50 | $37,510 | 96,960 |
| United States | $16.32 | $20.32 | $24.99 | $42,260 | 1,448,910 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Nursing Assistants (31-1131), May 2025 data, retrieved November 2, 2026.
How to read these numbers
- Median: the middle wage. Half of nursing assistants earned more and half earned less.
- Low (10th percentile): 1 in 10 nursing assistants earned less than this.
- High (90th percentile): 1 in 10 earned more than this.
The figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for nursing assistants (occupation code 31-1131). They cover nursing assistants as a whole, not only people who just finished training.
Texas and Florida compared
Both states had the same median, $18.03 an hour, which is $2.29 below the U.S. median of $20.32. The low end differs more: the 10th percentile was $14.72 in Texas and $16.52 in Florida. Florida has more nursing assistants (96,960) than Texas (88,680).
Hourly pay, May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Nursing Assistants (31-1131).
CNA pay by metro area in Texas
Across the 21 Texas metro areas we track, the median ranged from $15.44 an hour in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX to $18.53 in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX. Metro areas are listed by number of nursing assistants, largest first.
| Metro area | Low | Median | High | Jobs | CNA classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $17.24 | $18.53 | $23.60 | 23,420 | Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, Richardson, Allen, McKinney, Plano, Garland, Mesquite, Denton, Carrollton, Cleburne, Decatur, Ennis |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $15.68 | $18.26 | $22.76 | 19,230 | Houston, Baytown, Pasadena, Sugar Land, Katy, Richmond, Manvel |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $14.81 | $17.69 | $22.17 | 7,080 | San Antonio, Seguin |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $17.18 | $18.53 | $23.13 | 5,600 | Austin, San Marcos |
| El Paso, TX | $13.98 | $16.91 | $20.66 | 2,310 | El Paso |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $13.58 | $16.34 | $20.37 | 2,140 | McAllen, Edinburg, Weslaco, Pharr |
| Tyler, TX | $14.42 | $16.97 | $20.71 | 1,610 | Tyler |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $14.75 | $16.97 | $20.44 | 1,550 | Corpus Christi |
| Lubbock, TX | $13.70 | $16.49 | $20.14 | 1,490 | Lubbock |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $14.86 | $17.36 | $22.33 | 1,480 | Killeen, Temple |
| Waco, TX | $14.57 | $17.93 | $22.38 | 1,480 | Waco |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $14.58 | $16.88 | $20.63 | 1,200 | Beaumont, Silsbee |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $13.58 | $15.44 | $19.64 | 1,070 | Brownsville, Harlingen |
| Amarillo, TX | $14.93 | $17.65 | $23.25 | 1,000 | Amarillo |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $14.57 | $18.21 | $22.96 | 950 | Wichita Falls |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $14.88 | $17.12 | $20.82 | 940 | Bryan |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $11.84 | $15.81 | $19.70 | 820 | Texarkana |
| Abilene, TX | $13.88 | $18.01 | $20.70 | 800 | Abilene |
| San Angelo, TX | $14.50 | $17.02 | $21.39 | 610 | San Angelo |
| Laredo, TX | $13.35 | $16.89 | $20.42 | 510 | Laredo |
| Odessa, TX | $14.98 | $17.43 | $22.16 | 410 | Odessa |
CNA pay by metro area in Florida
Across the 11 Florida metro areas we track, the median ranged from $16.43 an hour in Tallahassee, FL to $19.21 in North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL. Metro areas are listed by number of nursing assistants, largest first.
| Metro area | Low | Median | High | Jobs | CNA classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $16.67 | $18.28 | $22.96 | 23,490 | Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $16.83 | $18.02 | $22.10 | 15,120 | Tampa, Largo, New Port Richey |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $16.72 | $18.12 | $22.29 | 12,000 | Orlando |
| Jacksonville, FL | $16.98 | $18.15 | $22.19 | 7,960 | Jacksonville |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $17.37 | $19.21 | $23.66 | 4,660 | Sarasota |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $17.07 | $18.04 | $21.96 | 3,520 | Fort Myers, Cape Coral |
| Gainesville, FL | $16.73 | $17.79 | $20.83 | 2,890 | Gainesville |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $16.40 | $17.82 | $21.24 | 2,760 | Melbourne |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $16.58 | $18.12 | $23.26 | 2,680 | Port Saint Lucie, Fort Pierce |
| Tallahassee, FL | $15.19 | $16.43 | $20.70 | 1,520 | Tallahassee |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $16.85 | $18.52 | $21.71 | 870 | Vero Beach |
Job outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for nursing assistants and orderlies to grow 3% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 203,300 openings a year on average.
What CNAs do for this pay
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing assistants typically:
- Bathing patients
- Helping patients use the toilet and get dressed
- Turning, repositioning and transferring patients between beds and wheelchairs
- Listening to patients' health concerns and recording that information
- Measuring vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature
- Serving meals and helping patients eat
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nursing Assistants and Orderlies.
Keep more of what you earn
Training costs come out of your first paychecks if you pay them yourself. Federal rules stop a nursing facility from charging its own nurse aides for approved training, and require the state to repay some people who paid themselves. How free CNA training works.
Common questions
How much do CNAs make in Texas?
The median pay for nursing assistants in Texas was $18.03 an hour in May 2025, or $37,500 a year. One in 10 earned less than $14.72 and one in 10 earned more than $22.84. The highest-paying metro area we track was Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, at $18.53 an hour.
How much do CNAs make in Florida?
The median pay for nursing assistants in Florida was $18.03 an hour in May 2025, or $37,510 a year. One in 10 earned less than $16.52 and one in 10 earned more than $22.50. The highest-paying metro area we track was North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, at $19.21 an hour.
Do CNAs make more in Texas or Florida?
The medians were the same, $18.03 an hour in May 2025. The low end was higher in Florida ($16.52) than in Texas ($14.72).
How does CNA pay in Texas and Florida compare with the U.S.?
The U.S. median for nursing assistants was $20.32 an hour in May 2025, above both Texas ($18.03) and Florida ($18.03).
Are CNA jobs growing?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects jobs for nursing assistants and orderlies to grow 3% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 203,300 openings a year on average.
Related guides
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Nursing Assistants (31-1131)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nursing Assistants and Orderlies
- 42 CFR §483.152 (Cornell LII)
This guide explains official rules in plain language. It isn't legal advice. Your state's regulator has the final word.