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Nursing Assistants Salary in California

What Nursing Assistants earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 10 counties.

Average in CA
$48,606
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
3 of 34
published states
Workers in state
109,350
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
4
10 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Nursing Assistants pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$56,080$45,728$8,637Alameda County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$48,070$39,772$2,141San Diego County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$47,380$39,259$824Los Angeles County, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$46,430$38,553$8,482Riverside County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Nursing Assistants in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Alameda County, CA$56,080$45,728$8,637
2Contra Costa County, CA$56,080$45,728$8,637
3Riverside County, CA$46,430$38,553$8,482
4San Bernardino County, CA$46,430$38,553$8,482
5San Diego County, CA$48,070$39,772$2,141
6Los Angeles County, CA$47,380$39,259$824
7San Francisco County, CA$56,080$45,728$81
8San Mateo County, CA$56,080$45,728$81
9Marin County, CA$56,080$45,728$81
10Orange County, CA$47,380$39,259−$1,672

Nursing Assistants pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Nursing Assistants in California is $48,606, based on 109,350 workers. Among the 34 states with published data, that ranks number 3. The BLS national median for the occupation is $42,260, so California averages 15.0% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $56,080 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area and the lowest is $46,430 in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, a difference of $9,650 across 4 wage areas.

Cost of living for Nursing Assistants in California

We compare 10 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $8,637. In Orange County, CA the basics cost $1,672 more than take-home pay. The median wage covers all four basics in 9 of the 10 counties.

Nursing Assistants in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Nursing Assistants are Washington ($50,153), Oregon ($49,511), New Jersey ($48,154) and Colorado ($47,798).

Frequently asked questions: Nursing Assistants in California

How much do Nursing Assistants earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $48,606, from $46,430 to $56,080 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Nursing Assistants?

Alameda County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($8,637). Contra Costa County, CA follows at $8,637.