CNA vs Medical Assistant: pay, jobs and what each takes

Medical assistants, by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025): a median of $21.97 an hour ($45,690 a year), against $20.32 ($42,260 a year) for certified nursing assistants, $1.65 an hour more. The open jobs on this board today post medians of $21.25 an hour for certified nursing assistants and $24.33 for medical assistants.

On this board today: 12,256 open certified nursing assistant jobs and 9,894 medical assistant jobs, read from each employer's own job board. BLS expects about 196,200 openings a year for certified nursing assistants and 109,700 for medical assistants, with employment changing +2.6% and +12.9% over 2025-2035.

Nursing assistants help patients with bathing, dressing, eating, walking and toileting, take vital signs and tell the nurse what they see. Most work in nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living. Medical assistants room patients, take vital signs and history, give injections, draw blood and keep the schedule moving for doctors and nurse practitioners, in clinics and practices.

A state-approved nurse aide training program (often 75 to 180 hours) and the state competency exam. (BLS: Postsecondary nondegree award.) A medical assisting certificate or associate degree, or on-the-job training. (BLS: Postsecondary nondegree award.) Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Certified nursing assistants, Medical assistants.