Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) see the biggest paychecks when they combine specialized skills, flexibility, and high-demand settings. Here are the roles that consistently pay the most worldwide in 2025:
- Travel CNA / Agency CNA Short-term contracts in understaffed hospitals or care homes remain the clear winner. Top travel CNAs earn $45–$75 per hour (sometimes higher during crisis staffing), plus free housing, travel allowances, and completion bonuses. Full-time travelers often clear $90,000–$130,000+ per year.
- Critical Care / ICU CNA Assisting with ventilated patients, complex dressings, and emergency response commands premium rates. These specialized roles commonly pay $22–$38 per hour, with experienced staff reaching $80,000–$100,000 annually.
- Operating Room (OR) CNA CNAs trained in sterile technique who help set up surgeries and transport patients earn $23–$35 per hour because of the technical demands and on-call requirements.
- CNA Supervisor / Charge CNA Overseeing a team on a unit or shift adds leadership pay. Supervisors in large hospitals or luxury care facilities regularly earn $50,000–$85,000 per year.
- Government & Military Facility CNA Positions in veterans’ hospitals, military bases, or correctional facilities offer excellent pay scales, built-in overtime, and strong benefits often $55,000–$90,000+ per year.
Geography still matters: the highest wages cluster in Alaska, California, New York, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Switzerland, Norway, Australia, and the UAE, where even standard CNA roles can exceed $50,000–$70,000 annually.
To reach the top tier, add certifications (phlebotomy, wound care, telemetry, dementia specialty), accept night or weekend differentials, and stay open to travel or agency work. Many six-figure CNAs simply work per-diem or travel contracts while keeping permanent certification active.
Bottom line: Travel CNA currently pays the most, followed by critical-care and OR specialties in high-demand locations.