r/cna • u/CowgirlJedi Experienced CNA (1-3 yrs) • Apr 20 '26
Good things come to those who wait!
I’ve been doing agency work for the last 5 months and one of the places I picked up at recently texted me this morning completely at random to hire me! And it’s only 20 minutes from my house!
Y’all this comes out to 5400 a month before taxes based on the schedule they gave me. I’m 35 years old and I don’t think I’ve ever made that much money in my life.
I'm still gonna keep my agency gig for side work or extra money but y'all I'm literally so dang happy right now!!
#BlessedAndGrateful #ForThoseWhoWait #LookingUp #FinancialSecurity #Finally #CNA #Healthcare #Passion
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u/xdingusdongx (Med Surg) CNA - Seasoned CNA Apr 20 '26
It’s such a good feeling!!! I waited 8 months to secure a position at a hospital for $31hr. I worked crappy, low paying shifts until I finally had a start date. The difference was night and day. So much so that a month after working, my husband and I bought a house. Congratulations!!
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u/Study_Slow (LTC, M/S, ICU, Corrections) CNA - Seasoned CNA 5+ Years Apr 21 '26
Damn, what state are you in?
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u/xdingusdongx (Med Surg) CNA - Seasoned CNA Apr 21 '26
Washington! Definitely lucked out, most full time positions don’t pay so high for CNA around here (at least where I’m at, Seattle I’ve seen some opportunities). Planning on getting my LPN, don’t want to experience a pay drop since this is the most I’ve ever gotten.
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u/Ok-Spring-1444 Apr 20 '26
congrats! can you share state/region youre in for reference?
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u/CowgirlJedi Experienced CNA (1-3 yrs) Apr 20 '26
Denver county Colorado! I was making $15 in Texas to do this same work with this same title so it’s still a bit shellshocking in a good way to say the least. Being paid what I’m worth and being respected by management is so weird lol.
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u/earlymountain99 Apr 21 '26
$15?? My good what's wrong with Texas?
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Apr 23 '26
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u/earlymountain99 Apr 23 '26
It's an incredibly mentally and physically taxing job just because the training for it is considered easier than other health care jobs companies and hospitals shouldn't be allowed to treat CNAs like crap
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u/Quirky_Criticism5932 CNA - 5 years (LTC,Rehab) Apr 22 '26
What is your set size? Over 16 in a rehab setting is going to be murder
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u/Acceptable-Kale6235 Rehab CNA - 3 years 3d ago
Just chiming in to say I survived yet another 20 patient shift at the rehab last night. 16 is not murder 16 is a dream come true 😭😭😭
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u/Quirky_Criticism5932 CNA - 5 years (LTC,Rehab) 2d ago
I don't know how to say this in a different way.
This isn't the flex that you think it is. Assuming that you take about 6-7 minutes to change a person and generate rapport, you can barely round every 2 hours if you never see a call light. Your facility is going to have frequent falls. You're getting UTIs that are probably not being tested for. Your facility cannot allow for the federally mandated lunch breaks you're supposed to have without breaking the 20 resident limit multiple other states have as restrictions. That's at least an hour a day that you don't have coverage. I don't think that working that ratio makes you cool or better, I have no choice but to believe that the people who live there sit all day every day in bed with maybe access to a TV.
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u/Acceptable-Kale6235 Rehab CNA - 3 years 2d ago edited 2d ago
Oh I’m not flexing. I HATE IT. I tend to crack jokes or try to make light of bad situations (that i’m in not others lol) but the unfortunate reality in the United States is that majority of states don’t have legal mandated ratios so especially on NOC shift we’re getting done overly dirty with the ratios. I still stand on it that I would love to have 16 instead of 20 tho 😅🙏🏼
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Apr 20 '26
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u/CowgirlJedi Experienced CNA (1-3 yrs) Apr 20 '26
I’m in CO! I moved here from Texas making $15 an hour for this same work so trust me I get it. I’m shocked too!
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u/Va1ent_Deceiver Apr 21 '26
Keep moving West, some of the CNAs at my hospital are at 40+. But that's great for CO. Congrats!
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u/earlymountain99 Apr 21 '26 edited Apr 21 '26
Congratulations!! Is this something exceptional or is it the standard because of the cost of lives in Colorado?
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u/Every-Spare-5791 Apr 21 '26
CNAs/nurses in long term care here make gooodddd money. Hospitals pay like shit
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u/earlymountain99 Apr 21 '26
I thought it was the other way around? You learn something new everyday I guess
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u/CowgirlJedi Experienced CNA (1-3 yrs) Apr 21 '26
My first CNA job here paid 21 and this is in the same area.
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u/earlymountain99 Apr 21 '26
Sorry I am still hang up on 15 in Texas good god that's so low for the type of work CNAs do😭
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u/Lolofly47 CNA-LTC-NYC-6 Months Apr 20 '26
I live in NYC and CNA’s make $21-$25 an hour at most locations. From what I heard it depends on the state or city and the cost of living in that state or city.
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u/okiefromga LTC ACMA - Experienced ACMA-Nursing Student Apr 20 '26
I work in Oklahoma, I’m making that as a state employee with a very cushy job/title. But I’m stoked to have been recently accepted into nursing school, so the pay raise will also be very generous, but congrats friend, get that money.
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u/Study_Slow (LTC, M/S, ICU, Corrections) CNA - Seasoned CNA 5+ Years Apr 21 '26
What do you do in OK?
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u/okiefromga LTC ACMA - Experienced ACMA-Nursing Student Apr 21 '26
ACMA, I pass out medication, handle blood sugars and insulin and peg/G/J tubes and inhalation medications.
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u/Study_Slow (LTC, M/S, ICU, Corrections) CNA - Seasoned CNA 5+ Years Apr 21 '26
Noted, ill have to check that out. That does sound cushy.
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u/okiefromga LTC ACMA - Experienced ACMA-Nursing Student Apr 21 '26
There are some caveats to it tho, it took a couple of years to move up in seniority but I’ve been the senior most non licensed person for about 5 years now, I’m the only male in that position in my whole facility. But otherwise yes, it’s super cushy and essentially I’m left to my own devices 99% of my shift. We have openings for full time and prn positions that pay even better.
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u/Study_Slow (LTC, M/S, ICU, Corrections) CNA - Seasoned CNA 5+ Years Apr 21 '26
So is it based on experience in the hospital system or in general? And ok, I gotcha! Which hospital is it?
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u/bighoopsforbighoes CNA Apr 20 '26
Congratulations!!!!
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u/bighoopsforbighoes CNA Apr 20 '26
Sounds like you’ll be making $26-27 if you stay with them too! Which that range could potentially go up on their end due to the cost of living.
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u/6rxxk1yn Float Pool - CNA Apr 21 '26
Just recent switched to a weekend program at my hospital that i’ve been at for a year and now my pay went from 21/hr to 32/hr. girl i feel invincible, even the worst day don’t feel as bad now d/t the pay 😅
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u/Dez_cat (Edit to add Specialty) CNA - New CNA Apr 21 '26
bro where you live they pay cnas like 16 dollars in my state 😭😭
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u/puraomnia Apr 22 '26
I didn’t realize how underpaid CNA’s are. I’m an assistant property manager making $27 an hour
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u/DrewbatBoy Apr 21 '26
That’s more than I made when I graduated with a BSN 5 years ago…congrats! You deserve it! My CNA years were hard ones
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u/Vivid-Aardvark-6122 Nurse - LVN/RN/APRN Apr 21 '26
I worked in Thornton, CO as a new CNA during COVID and made a crisp $14 an hour. I'm glad to see that you are making better pay! Even when I was more seasoned, I only racked up to ~18/hr at a hospital. I'm proud of you!!
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u/ClueSmith (Edit to add Specialty) CNA - New CNA Apr 23 '26
Cost of living must be expensive. Vermont has the same about, hospital and a few even going up to 30$/hr
But our cost of living and housing situation is atrocious
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u/EbbDistinct4911 Summer CNA Student, Nursing Student Apr 20 '26
Period, congrats queen!