First, knowledge is all you need to demand your salary. It is ok that you have graduated with a CNA certification, which is the basic nursing course. There are many more things to do and know that is not possible in six or eight weeks’ course. Having a basic knowledge of nursing will not give you the kind of leverage to ask for a high pay. In order to fetch more than an average salary, you need to accumulate more knowledge. You can do so by taking additional nursing courses. After adding extra qualification to your profile, employers will have no hesitation in paying you just above normal.
Second, you must pick your choice correctly if you want an above-average salary. Hospitals will help you in earning higher salary than nursing homes. As such, you will have to shoulder more responsibilities. If you give more services to your employer, they will pay your more. It is as simple as that.
Lastly, the state and city will also affect certified nursing assistants’ salaries. CNA salaries are few hundred dollars higher in states and cities where the living cost is higher. Many cities incorporate into a state. It is not likely that all the cities within the state are expensive. Each city has its own unique identity. If the state is costly and not the city you live in, your salary will be standard. The web page here gives an idea about state wise salary for CNA's
Here, we would also like to add the experience factor that influences your salary the most. An experienced nursing assistant would get $5 or $10 extra per hour than a fresh CNA graduate. They may earn $35,000 in a year. So pile up your experience and get paid higher.