NJ · Pennington · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Pennington, NJ

Pay for certified nursing assistants in the Pennington area centers on $21.83 per hour, or about $45,400 a year. The lower quarter earns under $19.81 and the upper quarter over $22.37. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Pennington. That ranks 51st of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 59th of 341 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Pennington.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Pennington

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Pennington, NJ

The metro median is 1% above the New Jersey statewide median of $21.59 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 1,520 nursing assistants employed in the Trenton-Princeton metro area, 6.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.71).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.96$37,3606% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$19.81$41,2004% above U.S. median
Median$21.83$45,40015% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$22.37$46,53018% above U.S. median
Top 10%$23.02$47,88021% above U.S. median

How Pennington ranks

  • 51st of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 59th of 341 after adjusting for local prices

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Pennington

  • Overall prices in Trenton-Princeton run 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 35% above the U.S. average (index 135.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $21.83 median hour buys what $21.16 buys at the national price level, 11% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Pennington paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$786
  • Per year: $39,294
  • Per month: $3,274

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Trenton-Princeton metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Pennington

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$138
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,568
13-week assignment$20,384

Travel certified nursing assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Pennington

CMS lists 1 hospital in Pennington, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell
Pennington, NJ
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Mercer County

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Mercer County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 14 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Trenton, NJ7 mi$21.83/hr91,193
New Brunswick, NJ21 mi$22.99/hr57,487
Plainfield, NJ28 mi$22.99/hr56,507
Philadelphia, PA28 mi$20.67/hr1,573,916
Perth Amboy, NJ30 mi$22.99/hr56,939
Camden, NJ32 mi$20.67/hr71,749

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in New Jersey · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

Certified Nursing Assistant salary in New Jersey

License and tax basics in New Jersey

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Jersey requires for your role with the New Jersey licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

New Jersey taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

New Jersey state guide

Other healthcare roles in Pennington

Pennington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Pennington, NJ?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Trenton-Princeton metro area have a median pay of $21.83 per hour, about $45,400 a year. The middle half earn between $19.81 and $22.37 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Pennington a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?

Trenton-Princeton ranks 59th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 51st of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Pennington?

We list 3 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Pennington. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Pennington.

Do I need a New Jersey license to work in Pennington as a certified nursing assistant?

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what New Jersey requires for your role with the New Jersey licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Pennington in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include Mercer County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Pennington?

The federal per diem benchmark in Pennington is $138 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,568 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place certified nursing assistants in Pennington?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Pennington and across New Jersey. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Pennington.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · CNA near Pennington, NJ
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportPennington, NJ · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Capital Health SystemPennington, NJ · 3 postings$20.48/ hr$18–$23
  • Centrastate Healthcare SystemFreehold, NJ · 6 postings$25.35/ hr$20–$31
  • Select MedicalSaddle Brook, NJ · 3 postings$23.30/ hr$21–$27
  • Jefferson HealthNew Jersey · 12 postings$22.63/ hr$17–$27

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$17Median$22.63High$27

37 CNA postings with published pay in New Jersey, 32 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 37 CNA roles

  1. Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)Permanent
    $19.50–$31.20/ hour
    Centrastate Healthcare System · Freehold, NJ · posted today
  2. Patient Care Technician (Oncology)Permanent
    $19.50–$31.20/ hour
    Centrastate Healthcare System · Freehold, NJ · posted today

+ 35 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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