Best Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Programs in Tupelo, Mississippi (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Quick answer: Certified nursing assistants in Mississippi earn a median of $31,520 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This page lists accredited certified nursing assistant schools near Tupelo, Mississippi with local wage data and median graduate earnings for each school.

Comparing certified nursing assistant schools in Tupelo, Mississippi starts with the local labor market and the credentials each program offers. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $31,520 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Tupelo Quick Facts

MetricValueSource
State median annual wage$31,520BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mississippi pay range (10th to 90th percentile)$27,050 to $38,290BLS OEWS, May 2025
Top-paying Mississippi metro for this fieldJackson, MS, $32,040BLS OEWS, May 2025
National job outlook (2024 to 2034)+2.3% growth, about 204,100 openings per yearBLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
State employment14,200 workersBLS OEWS, May 2025
Lee County unemployment rate2.8%BLS LAUS, 2024
Mississippi location quotient1.31BLS OEWS, May 2025

Nearby Cities

Explore the Certified nursing assistant Career

What You’ll Find Below

The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Tupelo. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Lee County and Mississippi figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Programs near Tupelo

#4

Jackson State Community College

Jackson, TN 95.5 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 22.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 272
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $48,313 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Shelton State Community College

Tuscaloosa, AL 103.8 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 25.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 32
  • Annual completions: 1119
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing: $50,082 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary Snapshot

U.S.
U.S. Median Pay $42,260 $20.32 per hour
Job Outlook 2.3% 32,500 jobs (2024–2034)
204,100 openings/yr
Data Year: 2025 SOC: 31-1131 Source: BLS OEWS

Training & Certification Steps in Mississippi

  1. Complete an accredited or state-approved Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program (certificate, diploma, or associate degree).
  2. Build hands-on experience through labs, clinicals, or supervised practice as required in your state.
  3. Prepare for any required certification or licensing exams and keep up with continuing education.

Tips for Choosing a Program

  • Confirm the curriculum aligns with employer expectations and any national certification you plan to pursue.
  • Compare schedules. many schools near Tupelo offer evening, weekend, or hybrid options.
  • Ask about clinical, lab, or externship placements and how they are arranged.
  • Review program outcomes, career support services, and available tuition assistance. Individual outcomes may vary.

Certified-Nursing-Assistant Salary in U.S.

Median Salary $42,260 $20.32/hr
Average Salary $42,700 $20.53/hr

Salary Range

$33,940 10th pctl
$42,260 Median
$51,980 90th pctl
10th Percentile $33,940 $16.32/hr
25th Percentile $37,260 $17.91/hr
75th Percentile $47,220 $22.70/hr
90th Percentile $51,980 $24.99/hr

Employment & Outlook

Total Employed1,448,910
Growth (2024-2034)2.3%
Annual Openings204,100
Jobs per 1,0009.3

Nursing Assistants (31-1131) • BLS OEWS, May 2025 • bls.gov/oes

Next Steps

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.