Nursing Assistants pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,320 or more. The middle half of nursing assistants in Durham earn between $39,500 and $45,770.
- $37K10th
- $40K25th
- $41KMedian
- $46K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,540 | $3,545 | $20.45 |
| Median | $40,560 | $3,380 | $19.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,500 | $3,292 | $18.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,770 | $3,814 | $22.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nursing Assistants pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Nursing assistants in Durham earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($39,280) and about the same as the U.S. average ($42,700). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $42,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $42,540 | $40,560 | $36,830 | $49,320 | 4,830 |
| North Carolina | $39,280 | $38,460 | $30,260 | $47,080 | 64,010 |
| United States | $42,700 | $42,260 | $33,940 | $51,980 | 1,448,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nursing Assistants salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $42,540, a single filer in Durham takes home about $35,172 a year, or $2,931 a month and $1,353 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for nursing assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $42,540 buys what about $43,599 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 9.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Nursing Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$42,540
- Asheville$41,500
- Charlotte$41,410
- Raleigh$40,460
- Winston-Salem$39,270
- Burlington$39,150
- Greensboro$38,650
- Greenville$38,270
- Wilmington$38,100
- Hickory$37,960
Highest-paying cities for nursing assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,370).
- San Jose, CA$59,370
- San Francisco, CA$56,700
- Seattle, WA$55,220
- Grants Pass, OR$52,720
- Portland, OR$52,660
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Nursing Assistants salary in Durham: questions
How much do nursing assistants make an hour in Durham?
$20.45 an hour on average, and $19.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nursing assistants take-home pay in Durham?
About $35,172 a year ($2,931 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,540.
Do nursing assistants earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($42,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-1131; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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