Nursing Assistant Salary in Riverside, CA
Nursing Assistants in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $46,430 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,036 take-home, or $3,170 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,392
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,879
- Medicare (1.45%)$673
- California income tax$847
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$604
- Take-home pay$38,036
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,950 | $18.73 | $32,423 | $2,702 |
| 25th percentile | $44,270 | $21.28 | $36,415 | $3,035 |
| Median (50th) | $46,430 | $22.32 | $38,036 | $3,170 |
| 75th percentile | $48,770 | $23.45 | $39,757 | $3,313 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,840 | $26.85 | $44,922 | $3,743 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,430 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median nursing assistant's $38,036 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,734 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are less concentrated in Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #46 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 46 | Riverside, CA | $46,430 | $38,036 | $35,734 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $56,840
- San Francisco, CA — $56,080
- Sacramento, CA — $47,510
- Stockton, CA — $46,530
- Fresno, CA — $44,710
- San Diego, CA — $48,070
- Los Angeles, CA — $47,380
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in Riverside, CA?
The median nursing assistant salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $46,430 a year, or about $22.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,270 and $48,770.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $46,430 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,036 a year ($3,170 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,450 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,734 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #46 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Dental Assistant — $48,500
- Medical Assistant — $46,700
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,320