Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Tallahassee, FL: $36,402 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time certified nursing assistant in Tallahassee, FL earns a median $36,402/year (≈ $17.50/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-1131). Once you factor in Tallahassee's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.9), that paycheck buys what $38,759 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.6% below the Florida state average.
Official BLS data · View source
The current environment for certified nursing assistants in Tallahassee, Florida, features a median annual salary of $36,402 as of 2026, reflecting a reset in wages following the pandemic. Salaries range from a 10th percentile of $33,643 to a 90th percentile of $45,859, showcasing the variability in compensation tied to experience and specific job responsibilities. This data, derived from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights how Tallahassee's certified nursing assistant pay remains approximately 19.12% below the national median of $45,007, indicating challenges in local wage competitiveness compared to broader national trends.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,643 | $16.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $34,144 | $16.41 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $36,402 | $17.50 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $38,638 | $18.57 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $45,859 | $22.05 |
Median Salary Position
19.12% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Tallahassee
In Tallahassee, FL, the certified nursing assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $12,216 (2026 est.). At $36,402, the local median is 19.12% below the national median of $45,007.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Tallahassee: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Tallahassee Certified Nursing Assistant Pay Compares
Tallahassee median: $36,402/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Tallahassee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Average | $39,396 | -7.60% less |
| National Average | $45,007 | -19.12% less |
Certified Nursing Assistants in Tallahassee, FL earn a median of $36,402 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.12% lower than the national median of $45,007 and 7.60% below the Florida state average of $39,396.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Tallahassee has a cost of living 6.08% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Tallahassee, FL has a cost-of-living index of 93.919 (below the national average of 100). A certified nursing assistant earning $36,402 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $38,759 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.47% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$24,340
2025 BLS Actual
$34,180
2026 Current Est.
$36,402
2019–2027 Growth
+59.3%
Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in Tallahassee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24,340 | Actual |
| 2020 | $24,680 | Actual |
| 2021 | $25,680 | Actual |
| 2022 | $28,390 | Actual |
| 2023 | $31,230 | Actual |
| 2024 | $34,070 | Actual |
| 2025 | $34,180 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $36,402 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $38,768 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tallahassee metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 40.4% from $24,340 (2019) to $34,180 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $38,768 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,428 (59.28%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tallahassee 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) | $33,643 – $34,144 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $34,144 – $36,402 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $36,402 – $38,638 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $38,638 – $45,859 |
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 Tallahassee
Tallahassee's employment landscape supports around 1,520 certified nursing assistants, indicating a steady demand for these roles as the healthcare sector adapts post-COVID. With a cost-of-living index of 93.919, the purchasing power for CNAs in the area is somewhat favorable. However, salaries can significantly vary across employers; skilled nursing facilities and hospitals typically offer the highest pay. Various factors contribute to wage disparities, including shift differentials that boost weekend and night shifts and agency staffing premiums during shortages. Understanding these dynamics can help prospective CNAs in Tallahassee maximize their pay—pursuing roles in high-acuity settings or taking on premium weekend shifts are effective strategies, along with considering pathways for certifications that enhance earning potential, like transitioning into LPN or RN roles.
More salary data for Tallahassee, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $34,180 for certified nursing assistantsin the Tallahassee 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