CNA Salary in Texas: What CNAs Actually Earn by City and Facility

Texas CNA Salary Overview

CNAs in Texas earn an average of $33,877 to $38,882 per year, which works out to about $16 to $18.69 per hour, according to Salary.com. That statewide average falls below the national CNA average of approximately $18.73 per hour (Bureau of Labor Statistics), making Texas one of the lower-paying states for certified nursing assistants. If you’re planning a career as a nursing assistant here, that number is the starting point — but it doesn’t tell you nearly enough.

Not yet certified? Read our guide on how to become a CNA in Texas first. If you’re already certified and trying to figure out whether your current pay is fair, keep reading.

Metric	Texas	National Average
Average Hourly	$16.00–$18.69	~$18.73
Average Annual	$33,877–$38,882	~$37,000–$39,000
Entry Level (10th percentile)	~$27,274	~$28,000
Top Earners (90th percentile)	~$37,203	~$42,000

(Sources: Salary.com, ZipRecruiter, Bureau of Labor Statistics — 2025–2026 data)

The statewide average hides a wide range. Hospital CNAs in DFW can earn over $21 per hour. LTC CNAs in rural areas may start at $13–14. Where you work and what type of facility you’re in matter more than the state average suggests.

If you have been comparing Texas CNA pay to what CNAs report in other states, you are not alone:

“I’ve been reading the pay in the $20’s for CNA’s who post here and I’m just like well what the heck is up with Texas??”
— CNA in Texas, via Reddit

That gap between Texas and higher-paying states is real — and the breakdown below shows exactly where Texas CNA pay stands by metro area, facility type, and experience level.

CNA Salary by Texas Metro Area

Texas CNAs are blunt about the state’s pay reputation:

“Texas is a notoriously low paying state for CNAs.”
— CNA, via Reddit

That reputation holds up in the aggregate — but the metro-by-metro data shows meaningful variation. Where you work in Texas matters as much as the fact that you work in Texas.

Houston

Texas’s largest metro clusters around the statewide average. CNA rates in Houston typically run $17–19 per hour (ZipRecruiter), with large hospital systems like Memorial Hermann, Houston Methodist, and MD Anderson paying at or above that range. The sheer supply of CNAs in the Houston market keeps wages moderate despite strong demand.

Dallas-Fort Worth

DFW consistently trends toward the higher end of Texas CNA pay at $18–20 per hour. A competitive healthcare labor market and large hospital networks — including Baylor Scott & White, Texas Health Resources, and UT Southwestern — drive rates up. If you’re choosing where in Texas to work, DFW offers the most consistent premium.

San Antonio

San Antonio falls near the statewide average, with CNA rates typically ranging $15–17 per hour. Military-affiliated healthcare facilities in the area may offer different pay structures. It’s a mid-range market, not a standout in either direction.

Austin

Austin trends higher ($18–20/hr) but the job market there can be uneven. Higher rates don’t stretch as far when you factor in Austin’s cost of living, which has risen sharply over the past several years.

“Outsider looking in. Seems like a mixed bag, some people can’t find anything and others say they will hire anyone with a pulse… Austin Texas area.”
— Reddit user (Austin, Texas area), via Reddit

If you’re targeting Austin, expect to compete for the better-paying positions. DFW may offer more consistent demand at similar pay.

El Paso

El Paso generally lands on the lower end of Texas CNA pay, with rates often in the $14–16 per hour range. Border market dynamics and a lower cost of living both factor in. The pay is lower, but so is what you’ll spend on rent and groceries.

Metro Area	Average Hourly	Average Annual	Notes
Dallas-Fort Worth	$18–$20	$37,440–$41,600	Highest-paying Texas metro
Austin	$18–$20	$37,440–$41,600	Higher COL offsets higher pay
Houston	$17–$19	$35,360–$39,520	Largest market, near-average rates
San Antonio	$15–$17	$31,200–$35,360	Mid-range market
El Paso	$14–$16	$29,120–$33,280	Lower COL, lower pay
Rural Texas	$13–$16	$27,040–$33,280	Wide variation by region

(Sources: ZipRecruiter, Bureau of Labor Statistics — 2025–2026 data)

Now you know where pays the most by geography. The next factor — facility type — produces an even bigger gap.

CNA Salary by Facility Type

Facility type is the single biggest lever for CNA pay in Texas. A CNA who switches from a nursing home to a hospital can see a $6 or more per hour raise without any additional certification or education. That’s more than most CNAs gain from years of tenure at the same facility.

Hospitals

Hospital CNAs in Texas average $44,935 per year ($21.60 per hour), according to ZipRecruiter’s hospital-specific data. That’s $6 or more above the typical nursing home rate and $3 or more above the statewide average.

Why the premium? Hospitals handle higher-acuity patients, operate with more complex care protocols, and typically have larger budgets. The work is demanding (faster pace, more complicated patient needs), but the pay reflects it.

Conditions within hospitals vary too. Some Texas CNAs have found that advocating for better staffing ratios also leads to better pay:

“My work changed them from 1:25-30 for CNAs in my Texas hospital to 1:15 and got a raise. It started when a tech asked me how to draft a letter addressing their pay and staff ratios.”
— CNA at a Texas hospital, via Reddit (57 upvotes)

That result is not guaranteed, but it shows that hospital settings are more likely to respond to organized advocacy than smaller facilities with thinner margins. For more on CNA patient ratios and how they connect to working conditions, that resource breaks down the numbers by setting.

Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care

Most Texas CNAs work in long-term care — and this is where pay is lowest. Typical rates run $14–17 per hour, well below hospital averages. LTC facilities operate on thinner margins, and the CNA-to-patient ratios are often higher.

Hourly rate is only part of the picture. Benefits vary dramatically by facility type in Texas, and some nursing homes offer less than you might expect:

“I worked at a nursing home in Texas that did not offer health insurance to any employees, except for mgmt.”
— CNA at a Texas nursing home, via Reddit

That lack of insurance is not universal among Texas nursing homes, but it is common enough that CNAs comparing facility types should factor in benefits, paid time off, and shift differentials, not just the base hourly rate posted on job listings.

Home Health and Hospice

Home health CNAs in Texas typically earn $15–17 per hour. The trade-off is schedule flexibility and one-on-one patient care, versus lower hourly rates and often fewer benefits than hospital positions. Hospice roles can pay slightly more due to the emotional demands of the work. Neither setting consistently reaches hospital pay levels.

Staffing Agencies and Travel CNA

Agency and travel CNA rates can reach $22–30+ per hour in Texas, sometimes higher during short-term contracts at understaffed facilities. The trade-offs are real: no employer-provided benefits, inconsistent scheduling, and assignments that can end with little notice. Agency work works best for CNAs who want short-term income boosts or are exploring different facilities before committing to one setting.

Facility Type	Typical Hourly	Typical Annual	Key Trade-off
Hospitals	$20–$22	$41,600–$45,760	Highest pay, benefits; higher acuity, faster pace
Staffing/Travel Agency	$22–$30+	Varies	Higher base; no benefits, less stability
Home Health/Hospice	$15–$18	$31,200–$37,440	Flexible hours; fewer benefits
Nursing Home/LTC	$14–$17	$29,120–$35,360	Most available jobs; lowest pay, higher ratios

(Sources: ZipRecruiter Hospital, Salary.com, NursingHome411 — 2025–2026 data)

The hospital-to-LTC gap of $6 or more per hour is the single biggest pay variable in Texas CNA work. A CNA can earn more by switching facility types than by accumulating years of experience at the same nursing home. Facility type determines your ceiling more than anything else.

CNA Salary by Experience Level

If you’re just starting out as a CNA in Texas, expect about $13–15 per hour, or roughly $27,274 per year at the entry level, according to Salary.com.

Experience Level	Average Annual	Average Hourly	Percentile
Entry Level (0–1 year)	~$27,274	~$13–$15	10th
Early Career (1–3 years)	~$30,000–$33,877	~$15–$16	25th
Mid-Career (3–5 years)	~$33,877–$36,504	~$16–$18	50th
Experienced (5–7 years)	~$36,504–$38,882	~$18–$19	75th
Top Earners (7+ / specialty)	~$38,882–$44,935	~$19–$22	90th

(Source: Salary.com, ZipRecruiter — 2025–2026 data)

The jump from entry-level to mid-career is meaningful, roughly $3 per hour over your first few years. After that, gains flatten unless you switch settings or add certifications. The jump from experienced to top earners is typically driven by facility choice or specialty certifications, not tenure alone.

Experience should translate to higher pay — but in Texas, the connection between years worked and hourly rate is not always straightforward. Some Texas CNAs report earning $13 per hour even after years of work, particularly in nursing home settings that cap CNA pay regardless of how long you’ve been there.

That ceiling on LTC pay doesn’t have to be yours. The next section covers specific strategies that Texas CNAs use to break past it.

How to Earn More as a Texas CNA

Before diving into strategies, here is the reality many Texas CNAs face when they try to negotiate:

"I ask for $18/hr (Texas CNA), the employers look at me crazy… Been in healthcare as a nursing assistant for 4 years but didn't get certified until 2022 so they only count my experience as 2 years not 4 years."
— CNA in Texas (4 years of experience), via Reddit (61 upvotes)

That experience-counting gap is one of the most common frustrations Texas CNAs report. The strategies below address it directly, starting with how to walk into that conversation with data on your side.

1. Negotiate your starting rate.

Texas employers often open with a lowball offer. Research the market rate for your metro and facility type before any conversation. For experienced CNAs in DFW or Austin, asking for $18–20/hr is reasonable — hospital rates in those markets support it. Even getting $1–2/hr more at hire adds $2,000–4,000 annually.

2. Switch to a hospital setting.

This is the highest-impact move available without additional schooling. Hospital CNAs average $21.60/hr versus $14–17/hr at nursing homes. Applying to hospital CNA positions doesn't require new certifications — it requires a targeted job search. See our CNA career advancement paths resource for how to position yourself for hospital roles.

3. Pick up night and weekend shifts.

Shift differentials in Texas typically add $1–3/hr. For a CNA working three 12-hour night shifts per week, even a $2/hr differential adds roughly $3,000–3,700 per year. Ask about differential pay during interviews — it's rarely listed in job postings but almost always negotiable.

4. Get additional certifications.

Patient Care Technician (PCT), medication aide, and phlebotomy certifications qualify you for roles that pay $2–5/hr more than standard CNA positions. Most programs take 4–12 weeks. CNA training and certification resources can help you identify the right next step. For Texas-specific approved programs, Texas CNA programs lists options across the state.

5. Target higher-paying metros.

DFW and Austin consistently pay $18–20/hr versus $14–16/hr in smaller markets and rural areas. If relocation is realistic, the metro premium alone can add $3–5/hr — more than most in-facility raises produce over several years.

If you're weighing whether the path is worth it overall, our page on why become a CNA in Texas covers the full value proposition beyond the salary numbers.

Texas CNA Pay vs. Cost of Living

At $16 per hour, a full-time Texas CNA earns about $33,280 per year before taxes. After federal income tax, take-home pay runs roughly $28,000–$29,000 annually. That's tight in Austin or DFW, more manageable in El Paso or rural areas.

Texas's no-state-income-tax policy is a real advantage. Compared to a CNA earning the same gross pay in California or New York, a Texas CNA keeps 5–7% more of each paycheck. That narrows, but does not close, the gap with higher-paying states.

How does CNA pay stack up against other entry-level healthcare roles in Texas?

Role	Average Hourly (Texas)	Notes
Hospital CNA	$20–$22	Highest-paying CNA setting
Medical Assistant	$16–$18	Comparable base pay, often more stable hours
Phlebotomist	$15–$17	Lower ceiling, less physical demand
Home Health Aide	$12–$15	Lower pay, more schedule flexibility

(Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Salary.com — 2025–2026 data)

The honest picture: as a sole income in a higher-cost Texas metro, $16/hr is tight. As a stepping stone to LVN ($23–27/hr) or RN ($35–45/hr) roles (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the financial math improves considerably with 1–3 years of additional training.

Those cost-of-living numbers can feel discouraging. But some Texas CNAs have found that pushing back — specifically and collectively — can move the needle:

"My work changed them from 1:25-30 for CNAs in my Texas hospital to 1:15 and got a raise. It started when a tech asked me how to draft a letter addressing their pay and staff ratios."
— CNA at a Texas hospital, via Reddit (57 upvotes)

That shift from 1:25 to 1:15, with a pay raise attached, did not happen because the hospital decided to be generous. It happened because staff organized around specific, documented concerns. Our resource on how to document unsafe staffing conditions gives you a framework for building that kind of case.

CNA certification in Texas costs $400–$1,200 and takes 2–8 weeks. CNA scholarships can reduce that upfront investment if cost is a barrier.