CNA Salary in Virginia: 2025 Complete Guide
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⚡ Key Takeaways
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Virginia CNAs earn between $35,000 and $50,000+ per year in 2025, depending on location, setting, and experience — with Northern Virginia commanding the highest wages in the state. If you’re researching CNA pay before committing to training, this guide covers everything you need: current salary data by region, licensing requirements, and how CNA wages compare to other in-demand hands-on healthcare careers in the DMV area.
Whether you’re a career changer weighing your options or a current CNA curious about what you could be earning, you’re in the right place.
Exploring healthcare career training in Northern Virginia?
AVI Career Training offers COE-accredited wellness programs — including Massage Therapy — right in Vienna, VA.
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What Does a CNA Earn in Virginia in 2025?
The short answer: most Virginia CNAs earn between $17 and $24 per hour in 2025, with annual salaries ranging from roughly $35,000 to $50,000 depending on your location and employer.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a national median wage of approximately $18.27/hour ($38,000/year) for Nursing Assistants. Virginia tracks close to the national figure statewide — but that average masks a significant geographic split. CNAs working in the Northern Virginia and DC metro corridor consistently earn more than their counterparts in rural Virginia or even Richmond.
Here’s a snapshot of current CNA pay in Virginia:
| Experience Level | Hourly Wage | Annual Salary (Est.) | Typical Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0–2 yrs) | $15–$17/hr | $31,200–$35,360 | Nursing home, long-term care |
| Mid-Level (2–5 yrs) | $18–$21/hr | $37,440–$43,680 | Hospital, assisted living |
| Experienced (5+ yrs) | $22–$26/hr | $45,760–$54,080 | Hospital, specialty care |
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), Virginia Employment Commission, Indeed, ZipRecruiter — 2024–2025 data.
The jump from entry-level to experienced CNA pay is real — but it takes years of working in physically demanding conditions to get there. That’s a factor worth weighing when evaluating the long-term return on your training investment.
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CNA Salaries by Location in Virginia: Northern Virginia vs. Statewide
Where you work in Virginia matters as much as how long you’ve worked — Northern Virginia CNAs earn measurably more than the state average, often by $8,000–$12,000 per year.
Virginia’s CNA pay landscape isn’t uniform. The DC metro proximity creates a wage premium in Northern Virginia counties that simply doesn’t exist in rural or even mid-state markets. Here’s how the geography shakes out:
| Region | Est. Annual CNA Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria) | $42,000–$50,000+ | Highest in VA; federal wage benchmarks, hospital density, high COL |
| Tysons / Vienna / Reston Corridor | $40,000–$48,000 | Strong demand from elder care and specialty facilities |
| Richmond Metro | $35,000–$41,000 | Moderate wages; strong hospital system presence |
| Virginia Beach / Hampton Roads | $34,000–$40,000 | Military healthcare proximity helps wages in some submarkets |
| Rural Virginia | $29,000–$35,000 | Lower wages; facilities may offer housing or sign-on bonuses to compensate |
The CNA hourly wage in Northern Virginia is among the highest in the entire Mid-Atlantic region. If you live in the Fairfax County, Arlington, or Alexandria area, the local job market works in your favor. The density of major health systems — Inova, Kaiser Permanente, and numerous assisted living networks — creates consistent demand and competitive pay.
What Drives Northern Virginia’s CNA Pay Premium?
Three factors push CNA wages higher in the Northern Virginia and Tysons Corner area compared to the rest of the state:
1. Cost of living adjustments — employers in the DC metro must compete for workers who face some of the highest housing costs on the East Coast
2. Federal workforce competition — federal government and contractor jobs set a regional wage floor that private healthcare employers must match to attract staff
3. Facility concentration — more hospitals, surgical centers, and long-term care facilities per square mile means more competition for qualified CNAs
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How Does CNA Pay Compare to Other Hands-On Healthcare Careers?
CNA pay is a starting point for many healthcare workers — but it’s not the ceiling, and it’s not the only path into a rewarding, hands-on healthcare-adjacent career.
If you’re drawn to direct patient or client care, physical wellness work, and credential-based careers that don’t require a nursing degree, it’s worth seeing how CNA wages stack up against related options. The comparison below includes careers that share some of the same appeal — physical, people-focused, and licensed — but differ significantly in earning potential, work environment, and training investment.
| Career | Median VA Salary (Est.) | Training Required | License Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) | $35,000–$50,000 | 75+ clock hours | Yes (NACE exam, VA Board of Nursing) |
| Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) | $55,000–$65,000 | 150–500+ hours depending on program | Yes (VA DPOR license) |
| Medical Assistant [Coming Soon] | $36,000–$44,000 | Certificate or associate degree (1–2 yrs) | Certification varies by employer |
| Licensed Esthetician | $38,000–$55,000 | 300–600 hours (VA state requirement) | Yes (VA DPOR license) |
The data points to something worth pausing on: Licensed Massage Therapists in Virginia earn a median of $55,000–$65,000 annually — with strong upside for self-employed practitioners or those working in medical spa, chiropractic, or sports medicine settings. That’s consistently above the CNA median, and it’s achievable through a focused credential program rather than a multi-year nursing ladder.
Why Career Changers Are Looking at Massage Therapy
Many people researching CNA salary data aren’t necessarily set on becoming a CNA — they’re evaluating hands-on healthcare paths that offer a good return on their training investment. Massage Therapy keeps coming up for three specific reasons:
Real Story: Martina had worked as a home health aide in Fairfax County for three years — earning about $17/hour — when she started researching what it would take to move into a better-paying wellness career. She’d always been drawn to therapeutic bodywork but assumed it would take years of school. After one call to AVI Career Training, she learned she could complete the Massage Therapy program (NO FINANCIAL AID FOR THIS PROGRAM) in a matter of weeks, earn her Virginia license through the DPOR, and start taking clients. Within eight months of finishing the program, she had built a part-time private practice earning more per hour than her full-time aide position.
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Virginia CNA Licensing Requirements and Training Hours
To work as a CNA in Virginia, you must complete a minimum of 75 clock hours of state-approved training and pass the Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (NACE).
Here’s a straightforward breakdown of what Virginia requires:
Training Hour Requirements
Virginia mandates a minimum of 75 clock hours for CNA training programs, which must include both classroom instruction and supervised clinical hours. Many programs exceed this minimum — particularly those offered through community colleges or hospital systems — to better prepare students for the competency exam and real-world patient care demands.
The Virginia Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (NACE)
Once you complete an approved training program, you must pass the NACE, which has two parts:
The NACE is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Virginia Board of Nursing. After passing, your name is added to the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry.
Registry and Renewal
Virginia CNA certifications require renewal every 24 months. To renew, you must show proof of active employment as a nurse aide during the renewal period — meaning you can’t let your certification go dormant and simply renew it on paper. This employment-linked renewal structure is worth knowing before you commit to training.
For the most current Virginia CNA licensing requirements, see the Virginia Board of Nursing directly.
Real Story: Darius completed a 75-hour CNA program through a Northern Virginia community college and passed his NACE on the first attempt. He spent two years working night shifts at a long-term care facility in Annandale — building his skills, earning around $18/hour — before deciding he wanted more schedule control and higher earning potential. He researched healthcare-adjacent careers in the DMV area and enrolled in massage therapy training to add a second credential. The career combination gave him both stability and flexibility that neither path alone would have provided.
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Considering a Wellness Career in Northern Virginia? Here’s What to Know
If you’re evaluating healthcare career training in Northern Virginia and want a credential-based path with strong earning potential, AVI Career Training’s Massage Therapy program is one of the most direct routes to licensure in the DMV area.
AVI Career Training is a COE-accredited (Council on Occupational Education), SCHEV-certified career school located in Vienna, Virginia — minutes from the Tysons Corner area. AVI offers hands-on training in Massage Therapy, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Electrolysis, and Cosmetic Laser Technology, serving a diverse student body across Northern Virginia and the broader DMV area.
AVI’s Massage Therapy Program at a Glance
The Massage Therapy program (NO FINANCIAL AID FOR THIS PROGRAM) at AVI Career Training is designed for working adults and career changers who want a focused, practical path to licensure — without a multi-year academic commitment.
Virginia LMT Licensing Through VA DPOR
After completing a state-approved massage therapy program, Virginia LMT candidates apply for licensure through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Requirements include proof of completed training hours, a background check, and passing the MBLEx (Massage &
