Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Raleigh, NC
Certified nursing assistants in Raleigh earn a median of about $19.09 an hour, and the city's three hospital systems, WakeMed, UNC REX and Duke Raleigh, are all posting nurse aide jobs right now. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get on the North Carolina registry.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Raleigh, NC
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Raleigh
Raleigh's nurse aide jobs are concentrated in its hospitals, and each system uses its own title. WakeMed posts Nursing Aide I roles on medicine, oncology, orthopedic, rehab and intermediate care units at the Raleigh Campus on New Bern Avenue, plus combined Nurse Aide I and clinical secretary roles in the Level I trauma emergency department and at North Hospital. UNC REX calls the job Nursing Assistant I on its Lake Boone Trail inpatient floors, and Duke Raleigh Hospital on Wake Forest Road hires Nursing Care Assistants for oncology, progressive care and neuro and spine units.
Skilled nursing and the state are the second lane. UNC REX staffs nursing assistants at its skilled nursing facilities in Raleigh and Apex, and the NC Department of Adult Correction recruits nursing assistants for Central Prison on Western Boulevard and the NC Correctional Institution for Women. With that many employers between the Beltline and the I-540 towns, an aide with a clean registry listing can usually choose shift, unit and commute.
Top Raleigh Employers Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants
These Raleigh employers are hiring nurse aides or name the role on their own careers sites:
- WakeMed Health & Hospitals - hires Nursing Aide I staff across inpatient units at the Raleigh Campus and Nurse Aide I and clinical secretary roles in its emergency departments.
- UNC REX Healthcare - posts Nursing Assistant I jobs on orthopedic, surgical, oncology and cardiac floors and at skilled nursing facilities in Raleigh and Apex.
- Duke Raleigh Hospital - hires Nursing Care Assistants (CNA) for inpatient oncology, progressive care and neuro and spine units, including night shifts.
- NC Department of Adult Correction - the state prison system recruits nursing assistants alongside nurses for Central Prison and NCCIW in Raleigh.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Raleigh
- Entry level: about $15 to $18 an hour for newly listed nurse aides.
- Experienced: roughly $18 to $22 an hour with hospital experience or a Nurse Aide II listing.
- Senior: about $22 to $23 an hour or more on nights, weekends and specialty units.
These are estimates based on the May 2025 federal wage survey for the Raleigh-Cary metro, which counted about 6,420 nursing assistants with a median of $39,710 a year. Unit, experience and shift move pay, and night and weekend work commonly adds a differential.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Raleigh
North Carolina calls the credential Nurse Aide I. You complete a state-approved Nurse Aide I training and competency evaluation program, pass the competency exam and are then listed on the Nurse Aide I Registry, run by the Health Care Personnel Registry Section of the NC Division of Health Service Regulation. The listing lasts two years and renews if you work at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide under RN supervision in that period. In Raleigh, Wake Tech offers Nurse Aide I, Nurse Aide II and a Nurse Aide I Refresher through its Nursing Division at the Perry Health Sciences Campus. Nurse Aide II is listed separately by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
What the Job Involves
Nursing assistants handle the hands-on care that keeps patients safe and comfortable. A shift means taking and recording vital signs, helping patients bathe, dress, eat and use the bathroom, turning and repositioning patients, helping them walk or transfer to a chair, answering call lights, keeping rooms stocked and reporting changes to the nurse.
Skills Employers Look For
- An active listing on the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry
- BLS (CPR) certification
- Safe lifting, transfer and fall-prevention technique
- Accurate vital signs and intake and output charting
- Patience and clear communication with patients and families
- Reliability on 12-hour, night and weekend shifts
Career Path and Advancement
A nurse aide job at WakeMed, UNC REX or Duke Raleigh is a common first step into Raleigh healthcare. Many aides add a Nurse Aide II listing, move into patient care technician or unit secretary roles, and then study at Wake Tech for the Practical Nursing diploma or the Associate Degree Nursing program while still working. With three systems hiring in one county, switching employers is a common way to get a better shift.
Related Careers in Raleigh
If nurse aide work interests you, these Raleigh guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do CNAs make in Raleigh?
The median wage for nursing assistants in the Raleigh-Cary metro was about $19.09 an hour in the May 2025 federal survey. New aides generally start around $15 to $18 an hour, while experienced aides on hospital units and night shifts can earn $22 or more.
How do I get on the Nurse Aide I Registry in North Carolina?
Finish a state-approved Nurse Aide I training and competency evaluation program and pass the competency exam. You are then listed by the Health Care Personnel Registry Section of the NC Division of Health Service Regulation. Aides in good standing in another state can apply by reciprocity.
Where can I take a CNA class in Raleigh?
Wake Tech runs Nurse Aide I, Nurse Aide II and a Nurse Aide I Refresher at its Perry Health Sciences Campus on Holston Lane in east Raleigh. Check the college's Nursing Division for class dates and requirements.
How do I keep my CNA listing active?
A North Carolina Nurse Aide I listing is good for two years. To renew it, you need at least 8 paid hours of nurse aide work under RN supervision during that time; otherwise you have to retest.
What is the difference between Nurse Aide I and Nurse Aide II?
Nurse Aide I is the entry credential on the state registry and covers basic personal care. Nurse Aide II is a more advanced listing with the North Carolina Board of Nursing that covers additional delegated tasks.
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