Wages Rise for Some Workers at Life Plan Communities

Assisted living directors and certified nurse aides (CNAs) working in life plan communities (formerly CCRCs) saw their wages increase during 2016, according to the new salary and benefits report issued by the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS) in cooperation with LeadingAge.

The 2016-2017 Continuing Care Retirement Community Salary & Benefits Report provides compensation data for more than 86,900 employees in 46 management and 53 non-management positions at 536 life plan communities.

Assisted Living/Personal Care Directors

Almost 60% of the life plan communities participating in the HCS research reported offering assisted living and personal care.

Directors of assisted living/personal care in these communities enjoyed an average pay increase of 2.29% in 2016, according to a report summary published by McKnight's Long-Term Care News.

The average national salary for these directors went from $69,758 in 2015 to $71,357 in 2016. During 2016, salaries for this position ranged from $58,178 to $83,990 across the country.

The HCS report documents regional variations in salaries for assisted living/personal care directors at life plan communities:

• On the high side, average salaries in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania ranged from $63,597 to $94,010.

• On the low side, average salaries in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin ranged from $51,824 to $74,861.

Certified Nurse Aides

Ninety-five percent of life plan communities employ certified nurse aides (CNA), according to the report.

Being certified translated into higher pay for CNAs working at life plan communities. HCS reports these national average hourly rates for aides:

• $14.10 for lead CNAs
• $13.03 for CNAs
• $11 for non-certified nurse aides

The national average salary for CNAs increased 2.33% in 2016, according to the report. The national hourly rate for lead CNAs increased 2.05%, while the hourly rate for non-certified nurse aides increased 1.50% during that same period.

To encourage CNAs to become certified:

• 13.78% of survey participants reported paying the cost of CNA certification.
• 43.90% reported paying a premium for nurse aides who were already certified.

CNA pay also varied by core-based statistical area (CBSA):

• CNAs in the Oklahoma City CBSA received the lowest pay: $10.99 per hour.
• CNAs working in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy CBSA in Massachusetts received the highest pay: $16.00 per hour.

About the Report

The HCS report presents compensation data from life plan communities in a variety of categories:

• Revenue size
• Total unit size
• Geographic region
• State
• Core-based statistical areas (CBSA). CBSA data is new to this year’s report

The report also includes data on:

• Fringe benefits
• Turnover rates by department
• Projected salary increases by department for 2016 to 2017

Purchasing the Report

The 2016-2017 Continuing Care Retirement Community Salary & Benefits Report is available to LeadingAge members for a discounted price of $250.

To order the publication, visit the HCS website or call (201) 405-0075.