How Much Was Your First Check As A CNA?

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I was just woundering how much did your first checks add up to?

Specializes in Hospice.
Really? As a CNA? What state?

I don't even think LPNs make that much starting out around here. :confused:

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

I remember the days of working as a CNA for $6.00/hr. All I can say is that because I've worked as a CNA and now as a LPN, I see again what all you guys do and deserve so much more money. You are our eyes and ears and without you we as nurses couldn't do our job. Since I was an aide years ago, I will always try and help anywhere I can because you guys are so overworked and underpayed for the excellent hands on care you give your patients. Keep up the good work, and I will always fight for you guys to get more money. I work LTC so my time to assist in care is very limited, but charting can wait, soiled residents can't.

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you can go on line to PAYCHECKCITY.com and run your numbers on there to get the takehome pay. It is a free site:balloons:

why ?

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whoa that is crazy. with the nature and magnitude of what CNAs do, that pay is way too little. i thought it was more than that. i'm trying to break into nursing (just started the prereqs) and i was thinking about doubling as a cna so i could get a foot in the door. i'll have to think about it now

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I started working as a CNA in Vermont 7 years ago. I was making $6.75 an hour. Now I live in California, work in a hospital and make $20.45 per hour. I work as a patient care tech, basically a CNA but also with secretary and monitor tech responsibilies. I have been a CNA for 7 years and at this hospital for 4 1/2 years.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
I started working as a CNA in Vermont 7 years ago. I was making $6.75 an hour. Now I live in California, work in a hospital and make $20.45 per hour. I work as a patient care tech, basically a CNA but also with secretary and monitor tech responsibilies. I have been a CNA for 7 years and at this hospital for 4 1/2 years.

Holy crap! I think I'll move to California. :rotfl: I knew that the cost of living there is crazy, but that's a lot of money for a CNA (but in my opinion, good CNA's deserve that kind of money)....Good for you! :up:

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well when i had cna back in 1994 i started out at 5.25 an hour and once i was state tested it was 6.50 and right before i left that nursing home in 1997 i was making 8.00 an hour so times have definetly changed. i cant wait to see how much i make once i get a job again in it.;)

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-BC.

I just finished my CNA course in March of this year. We also just got a cost of living increase this month so now I'm making $11.34 an hour. I work PRN (by choice) so my paycheck varies but I usually get 40-48 hours on a check (we get paid twice a month).

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Wow, When I started as Nurse's Aide way back in 1971 or 72 I made about 1.60 an hour.

That's been so long ago I can't even remember if they paid me once a week or every two weeks, but once a week would have been about $49.60 before taxes. That sounds about right, because, as we know men always make more money for what they do compared to women and what we have to do. My husband worked in a boat factory back then and he brought home $75.00 per WEEK. Our rent was 52.00 a month, and we could go to the grocery store and spend $20.00 and have EVERYthing we wanted to eat. We had steak, shrimp, and all the extras for 20 bucks a week.

Didn't mean to get off topic.....just a little reminiscing.

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I got paid 8.00 dollars an hour in the facility i trained in before i did my exams. That was in Washington State. The last place i worked at in Seattle paid me 13.00 dollars an hour. Now i have moved south (S.C.) and even though i have like 6 years experience as a CNA, the most i have been told i will be paid is 8.00 dollars and i don't find this place any cheaper than Seattle even though the pay here is miserable. The pay the pay here is what somebody who did not have CNA certificate in Seattle would be getting. I can not believe it with all the work at a nursing home, South Carolina would pay that little.

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i don't understand why CNA's get paid so little. CNA school takes up to $700 for tuition not including the money u have to fork up for other costs such as license exam.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.
i don't understand why CNA's get paid so little. CNA school takes up to $700 for tuition not including the money u have to fork up for other costs such as license exam.

The quick answer for your question is....that is what the market pays. It is a price point thing. What are most CNAs willing to accept vs. the perceived value of their service.

I went to MA school and spent $7,000 for a position that only paid on average $7/hr (back in 1997). The reason the doctors created an MA position was "why pay RNs/LPNs to do what we can have unlicensed staff do?" That is a very good question. The fact is, IMHO, MAs sold themselves short. I believe that they could have done better than the $7/hr; however, most of the women in my class thought $7/hr was GREAT and in fact was more than they ever made. And so, they were happy with $7/hr. If however, they all demanded $10/hr they would have got it. Doctors still need a staff and $10/hr is less than what they would have to pay a nurse. My CNA training was free through a nursing home and I still think the pay was too low, but once again, they paid the market rate. I could not go in and demand $10/hr if everyone else is jumping at the lesser amount. This is just my view of the low pay.

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