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Nursing assistants was the largest occupation in nursing care facilities in May 2020
June 01, 2021
Nursing care facilities had about 1.5 million jobs in May 2020. Healthcare support occupations (630,550) made up 41 percent of jobs in this industry, and healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (408,450) made up an additional 27 percent. Outside of the two healthcare groups, the largest occupational groups in nursing care facilities were food preparation and serving related (149,350), building and grounds cleaning and maintenance (83,880), and office and administrative support occupations (69,130).
Employment in nursing care facilities by occupational group, May 2020
Occupational group
Employment
Percent of total industry employment
Total industry employment
1,534,120
100%
Healthcare support
630,550
41
Healthcare practitioners and technical
408,450
27
Food preparation and serving related
149,350
10
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
83,880
5
Office and administrative support
69,130
5
Personal care and service
47,070
3
Management
43,420
3
Installation, maintenance, and repair
26,000
2
Community and social service
25,070
2
Production
21,100
1
Business and financial operations
16,750
1
All other occupational groups
13,350
1
Nursing assistants (527,480) was the largest occupation in nursing care facilities, followed by licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (199,760) and registered nurses (143,250). After these three healthcare occupations, the largest occupations were maids and housekeeping cleaners (68,850), nonrestaurant food servers (54,120), and institution and cafeteria cooks (46,850).
Employment and annual mean wages for the largest occupations in nursing care facilities, May 2020
Occupation
Employment
Annual mean wage
Management
Medical and health services managers
25,380
$100,160
Community and social service
Healthcare social workers
13,680
56,640
Healthcare practitioners and technical
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
199,760
51,200
Registered nurses
143,250
72,090
Physical therapists
12,190
97,390
Occupational therapists
11,370
91,810
Medical dosimetrists, medical records specialists, and health technologists and technicians, all other
9,330
42,810
Dietetic technicians
8,280
30,570
Healthcare support
Nursing assistants
527,480
31,000
Medical assistants
10,190
31,620
Physical therapist assistants
9,190
66,620
Occupational therapy assistants
7,510
67,300
Food preparation and serving related
Food servers, nonrestaurant
54,120
26,820
Cooks, institution and cafeteria
46,850
29,270
Food preparation workers
17,610
25,450
Fast food and counter workers
10,320
25,780
First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
9,010
45,500
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
Maids and housekeeping cleaners
68,850
26,310
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners
9,100
28,280
Personal care and service
Recreation workers
36,650
30,840
Office and administrative support
Receptionists and information clerks
15,580
29,460
Office clerks, general
11,450
36,760
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
7,960
38,000
Installation, maintenance, and repair
Maintenance and repair workers, general
22,070
39,590
Production
Laundry and dry-cleaning workers
20,500
25,440
Five of the 6 largest occupations in nursing care facilities had annual mean wages below the U.S. average of $56,310. Registered nurses had an annual mean wage of $72,090 in this industry. Nursing assistants ($31,000), licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($51,200), maids and housekeeping cleaners ($26,310), nonrestaurant food servers ($26,820), and institution and cafeteria cooks ($29,270) all had below-average wages.
United States Department of Labor
