Certified nurse aides and resident assistants working in the assisted living portion of continuing care retirement / life plan communities received an average rate bump of 4.35% and 3.94%, respectively, over 2024 levels, according to a new national salary and benefits report.

The recently released 2025-2026 CCRC Salary & Benefits Report from Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service placed the average hourly rate for CNAs working in assisted living at $20.45, whereas resident assistants were at $17.28.

There was little difference in the average hourly wage earned by CNAs based on CCRC size. CNAs in assisted living at communities with up to 299 units earned an average hourly rate of $20.25, whereas those at communities with 300 total units or more earned an average hourly rate of $20.59.

California offered the highest average hourly salary for CNAs, at $22.82, and it also was high in the Boston-Cambridge-Qunicy, MA-NH metro area, where the rise was to $21.52. South Carolina came in with the lowest average hourly salary, at $17.11, along with the Sarasota, Bradenton-Venice, FL, metro area, at $19.25. 

CNAs working in CCRCs in the West South Central region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas) had the lowest average formal hourly salaries, ranging from $14.72 to $21.41, whereas CNAs working in the Pacific region (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington) had the highest average hourly formal salaries, ranging from $21.77 to $30.74.

Like CNAs, there was minimal difference in hourly salaries for resident assistants working in assisted living in CCRCs based on community size. Resident assistants working at communities with up to 299 total units earned an average hourly wage of $17.55, whereas those at communities with 300 total units or more earned an average of $17.80.

Massachusetts offered the highest average hourly salary for resident assistants in assisted living in CCRCs, at $21.44, and resident assistants in CCRCs in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH, metro area also had relatively high salaries, earning an average of $21.52. South Carolina paid the lowest average hourly salary, at $14.17, along with the San Antonio, TX, metro area, at $14.92.

Resident assistants in assisted living working in CCRCs in the South Atlantic region (Delaware, Washington, DC, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) earned the lowest average hourly formal salary, ranging from $13.67 to $19.37, whereas resident assistants in the Pacific region pulled in the highest average hourly formal salary, ranging from $18.32 to $24.63. 

The report, which is published in cooperation with LeadingAge, is available for purchase online on the HCS website. It also includes data on turnover and vacancy rates as well as the use of sign-on bonuses.

Read salary information for assisted living / personal care managers working in CCRCs here.