Nursing assistants work in varied healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, assisted living facilities, home health care agencies, and other individual and family service environments. As of May 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that approximately 1,315,000 nursing assistants were employed in the U.S., making it one of the largest healthcare occupations. The BLS further estimated that, as of May 2021, the national mean wage for nursing assistants was $33,250 per year. From state to state there was considerable disparity in nursing assistant mean annual wages, with nursing assistants in some regions of the country earning 50% or more than their counterparts elsewhere. Per BLS data of May 2021, the ten best and worst states for nursing assistant pay were:
The Best and Worst States for Nursing Assistant Pay
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| AK | 1,760 | $43,080 | 1st |
| NY | 85,490 | $40,680 | 2nd |
| CA | 94,450 | $39,760 | 3rd |
| DC | 3,140 | $39,390 | 4th |
| OR | 12,460 | $38,830 | 5th |
| WA | 26,050 | $38,270 | 6th |
| MA | 38,970 | $37,680 | 7th |
| MN | 25,440 | $36,730 | 8th |
| HI | 5,260 | $36,680 | 9th |
| CT | 19,470 | $36,110 | 10th |
| U.S. | 1,314,830 | $33,250 | ------- |
| MO | 33,200 | $29,520 | 42nd |
| NC | 55,940 | $29,410 | 43rd |
| KY | 21,190 | $29,290 | 44th |
| SC | 15,900 | $29,260 | 45th |
| TN | 26,720 | $28,900 | 46th |
| OK | 16,920 | $27,850 | 47th |
| AR | 17,620 | $27,840 | 48th |
| AL | 19,610 | $26,590 | 49th |
| LA | 19,010 | $25,840 | 50th |
| MS | 11,200 | $25,690 | 51st |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on August 17, 2022