According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 1.4 million nursing assistant jobs in 2006. About 53 percent of nursing assistants worked in nursing and residential care facilities, while another 29 percent worked in hospitals.

Due to the aging population in the U.S., overall employment is expected to grow about 28 percent between 2006 and 2016, faster than the average for all occupations.

Home health aide jobs are expected to grow faster than other aides due to the public’s preference for home care and the expensive of having a loved one in a nursing home.

Most employers require CNAs have a high school diploma or GED, although some states allow people as young as 16 to be certified as a CNA.

In some situations, a nursing assistant may work for up to four months while working towards certification at the same time.

The median hourly wage for nursing assistants was $10.67 in 2006, with an hourly salary range of less than $7.78 to more than $15.00.