unimportant salary

Where you work, when you work, experience, facility, type of facility, type of payment the facility accepts, etc.

It all factors in.

HERE YOU GO
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos165.htm

on this site mandated by the government, you can look up any career of your choice and have a ball park figure of their earnings. hopes this help

I have moved this to the CNA forums for a better response

There is NO generalization. It varies not only state-to-state, but by region. For example, in the immediate Chicago area where I reside, CNA's usually start around $8.50 - $10 an hour at LTC. Hospitals are generally around $9.50 to $10.50, to start. But, go an hour outside Chicago, in more rural areas where cost of living is less, starting rates could go down to $7.50 an hour. Your profile shows you live in MN. Rates could vary, like Chicago, a good $2.50 an hour depending how far from the Twin Cities you live.
As a general rule, assisted living pays the least, then LTC, then hospital.

And money DOES matter --- you have to make a living. And don't forget benefits. They can be as much as 30% of your salary. It's very possible you might choose, if you have a variety of job possibilities, a job that pays a bit less than others that might have better health insurance.