Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Boston, MA
Certified nursing assistants in Boston see posted hospital pay of about $18.50 to $27.60 an hour, and BMC Brighton, the Brigham and Hebrew SeniorLife in Roslindale are all hiring. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get certified in Massachusetts.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Boston, MA
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Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Boston
CNAs in Boston work in two very different settings. Hospitals hire them for med-surg, telemetry, postpartum and float pool units, on day, evening and night shifts, often with every other weekend. Boston Medical Center posts a steady run of CNA openings at BMC Brighton, the former St. Elizabeth's Medical Center on Cambridge Street, while Mass General Brigham hires for Brigham and Women's in the Longwood Medical Area and for Brigham and Women's Faulkner in Jamaica Plain.
The other half of the market is long-term care and rehabilitation, where CNAs deliver most of the hands-on care. Hebrew SeniorLife's Roslindale campus on Centre Street hires patient care associates and also trains new aides through its own nurse aide program. Hospital postings such as Faulkner's require CNA certification and CPR, so the certificate is the ticket into the better-paid hospital jobs.
Top Boston Employers Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants
These employers have posted CNA or CNA-preferred openings in and around Boston on their own careers sites:
- Boston Medical Center - BMC Brighton hires CNAs for med-surg, telemetry and float pool on day, evening and night shifts, and BMC South in Brockton hires too.
- Brigham and Women's Hospital - the Mass General Brigham teaching hospital in the Longwood Medical Area hires CNAs for units including postpartum.
- Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital - the community hospital in Jamaica Plain hires CNAs with CNA or PCT certification and Heartsaver CPR for 12-hour inpatient shifts.
- Hebrew SeniorLife - the senior care nonprofit hires patient care associates at its Roslindale campus, with CNA certification preferred.
- Beth Israel Lahey Health - the system behind Beth Israel Deaconess hires CNAs at its community hospitals, including Plymouth on the South Shore.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Boston
- Entry level: about $18 to $21 an hour for newly certified aides.
- Experienced: roughly $22 to $26 an hour on hospital units, with shift differentials on evenings and nights.
- Top of range: $26 to $28 an hour for long-tenured hospital CNAs and per diem shifts.
These are estimates built from ranges Boston employers posted in 2026: Brigham and Women's Faulkner listed $18.56 to $27.58 for a CNA, and Hebrew SeniorLife $15 to $28 for a patient care associate. Hospital jobs generally pay more than long-term care at the low end, and evening, night and weekend shifts add a differential.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Boston
Massachusetts certifies nurse aides through the Nurse Aide Registry Program in the Department of Public Health's Bureau of Health Professions Licensure. You complete a state-approved nurse aide training program, then pass the state competency evaluation run by D&S Diversified Technologies, which has a knowledge test and a skills test and is offered in English, Spanish, Chinese and Haitian Creole. Local options include Roxbury Community College's CNA course at Roxbury Crossing, Bunker Hill Community College's nurse aide courses, Hebrew SeniorLife's Lunder CareForce Institute on Centre Street in Roslindale, and Quincy College's 5- to 7-week hybrid program in Quincy Center.
What the Job Involves
CNAs work under the supervision of registered nurses and handle the hands-on care that fills a patient's day. Tasks include bathing, dressing and toileting, helping patients walk and reposition, taking vital signs and blood glucose readings, recording intake and output, answering call lights, and reporting changes in condition to the nurse. Hospital CNAs may also run EKGs and help with wound care, while long-term care aides build daily routines with the same residents over months or years.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Massachusetts nurse aide certification
- CPR or Basic Life Support certification
- Accurate vital signs and documentation
- Safe patient handling and transfers
- Patience and respect for patients' dignity
- Reliability on rotating shifts and weekends
- A second language such as Spanish, Haitian Creole or Cantonese
Career Path and Advancement
In Boston the CNA certificate is a common first step into nursing. Many aides start in long-term care, move to a hospital unit or float pool, and add phlebotomy and EKG skills to step into patient care technician roles. The bigger jump is to practical or registered nursing: Quincy College's 10-month practical nursing certificate and associate degree programs at Bunker Hill, Roxbury and Quincy are the usual next stops, and some Boston employers offer tuition support to staff.
Related Careers in Boston
If nursing assistant work interests you, these related Boston roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do CNAs make in Boston?
Posted hospital ranges in Boston in 2026 run from about $18.50 to $27.60 an hour, as at Brigham and Women's Faulkner. Long-term care can start lower, and evening, night and weekend shifts usually add a differential.
How do I get CNA certified in Massachusetts?
Finish a state-approved nurse aide training program, then pass the knowledge and skills tests of the state competency evaluation, administered by D&S Diversified Technologies. Passing puts you on the Massachusetts Nurse Aide Registry, which employers can check before hiring.
How long does CNA training take near Boston?
Programs are short. Quincy College runs 5- to 7-week sessions for $1,550 in tuition, and Hebrew SeniorLife's program in Roslindale takes about four weeks full time or two to three months part time.
Can I get CNA training paid for in Boston?
Sometimes. Hebrew SeniorLife's Lunder CareForce Institute pays tuition in full for many students through employer partners after a successful interview; otherwise tuition and fees are $1,700. Students are not paid during class hours.
What if I fail the Massachusetts CNA exam?
You can retake it. Massachusetts allows up to four attempts at the knowledge test and up to three attempts at the clinical skills test.
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