Nursing assistant (CNA) pay in San Diego, CA
Nursing assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a typical $48,070 a year. The middle half earn $46,710 to $51,600, and the top 10% earn more than $60,510. About 9,670 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Nursing Assistants, SOC 31-1131).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $40,420 |
| 25th percentile | $46,710 |
| Median (typical) | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | $51,600 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $60,510 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 7 of 50 large metros for nursing assistants before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $48,070, a single filer keeps about $39,900 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Diego are 12% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $35,600 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Diego No. 18 of 50 large metros for nursing assistants after cost of living.
Where nursing assistants’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$56,840 typical · worth $42k
- San Francisco, CA$56,080 typical · worth $39.6k
- Seattle, WA$51,990 typical · worth $39.6k
- Milwaukee, WI$45,690 typical · worth $38.9k
All 50 metros for nursing assistants →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a nursing assistant (cna) make in San Diego, CA?
The typical (median) nursing assistant (cna) in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earns $48,070 a year. The middle half earn between $46,710 and $51,600, and the top 10% earn more than $60,510. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a nursing assistant (cna) in San Diego?
Anything above $48,070 pays more than half of nursing assistants in San Diego. $51,600 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $60,510 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a nursing assistant (cna) in San Diego take home after taxes?
At the typical $48,070, a single filer keeps about $39,900 a year ($3,320 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 12% above the US average, that buys what $35,600 would in a typical US city.
Where do nursing assistants get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical nursing assistant (cna) pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA. San Diego, CA ranks No. 18.
More: Nursing assistant (CNA) pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Diego, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.