Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

Salaries for nursing home administrators jumped 3% over the past year, to a national average of $97,401, while directors of nursing realized a 2.6% increase, to an average of $89,902.

The Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Report 2017-2018 was released in late July and is the largest nursing home survey of its kind.

Executive directors and chief financial officers for skilled nursing facilities experienced salary boosts of 2.5% and 2.1%, respectively. Both positions earned less than their counterparts in continuing care retirement communities, report results revealed. 

The average salary for assistant DONs rose 2.3%, to $71,474.

On an hourly basis, pay for registered nurses rose 3.3%, to $27.52 per hour; LPNs, 2.65% to $21.26;  CNAs, less than 1.5% to $12.62; and non-certified nurse aides 3.5%, for an average rate of $10.90.

The report is published by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service in cooperation with LeadingAge and support from the American Health Care Association.