Occupational Outlook Handbook > Healthcare >

Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Summary
What They Do
Work Environment
How to Become One
Pay
Job Outlook
State & Area Data
Similar Occupations
More Info

Summary

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Quick Facts: Nursing Assistants and Orderlies
2018 Median Pay	$28,530 per year $13.72 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education	See How to Become One
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	See How to Become One
Number of Jobs, 2018	1,564,200
Job Outlook, 2018-28	9% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2018-28	137,800

What Nursing Assistants and Orderlies Do

Nursing assistants help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities.

Work Environment

Nursing assistants and orderlies work in nursing and residential care facilities and in hospitals. They are frequently physically active and may need to help lift or move patients.

How to Become a Nursing Assistant or Orderly

Nursing assistants must complete a state-approved education program and must pass their state’s competency exam to become certified. Orderlies generally have at least a high school diploma.

Pay

The median annual wage for nursing assistants was $28,540 in May 2018.

The median annual wage for orderlies was $28,060 in May 2018.

Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 9 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to assist and care for elderly patients.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for nursing assistants and orderlies.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of nursing assistants and orderlies with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about nursing assistants and orderlies by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Nursing Assistants and Orderlies Do About this section

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants

Nursing assistants help patients with activities of daily living like eating and bathing.

Nursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.

Duties

Nursing assistants provide basic care and help with activities of daily living. They typically do the following:

Clean and bathe patients or residents
Help patients use the toilet and dress
Turn, reposition, and transfer patients between beds and wheelchairs
Listen to and record patients’ health concerns and report that information to nurses
Measure patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature
Serve meals and help patients eat

Some nursing assistants also may dispense medication, depending on their training level and the state in which they work.

In nursing homes and residential care facilities, nursing assistants are often the principal caregivers. They have more contact with residents than other members of the staff. Nursing assistants often develop close relationships with their patients because some residents stay in a nursing home for months or years.

Orderlies typically do the following:

Help patients to move around the facility, by doing such tasks as pushing wheelchairs
Clean equipment and facilities
Change linens
Stock supplies

Nursing assistants and orderlies work as part of a healthcare team under the supervision of licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses.

Work Environment About this section

Orderlies are responsible for keeping hospitals and other facilities clean and tidy.

Nursing assistants held about 1.5 million jobs in 2018. The largest employers of nursing assistants were as follows:

Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	38%
Hospitals; state, local, and private	27
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	11
Home healthcare services	5
Government	4

Orderlies held about 51,000 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of orderlies were as follows:

Hospitals; state, local, and private	79%
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	6
Ambulatory healthcare services	6
Government	2
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	1

The work of nursing assistants and orderlies can be strenuous. They spend much of their time on their feet as they take care of many patients or residents.

Injuries and Illnesses

Nursing assistants and orderlies have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. These workers frequently move patients and have other physically demanding tasks. They typically get training in how to properly lift people, which can reduce the risk of injuries.

Work Schedules

Most nursing assistants and orderlies work full time. Because nursing homes and hospitals provide care at all hours, nursing assistants and orderlies may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

How to Become a Nursing Assistant or Orderly About this section

Nursing assistants must be able to communicate effectively to address patients’ or residents’ concerns.

Nursing assistants must complete a state-approved education program and must pass their state’s competency exam. Orderlies generally have at least a high school diploma.

Education and Training

Nursing assistants must complete a state-approved education program in which they learn the basic principles of nursing and complete supervised clinical work. These programs are found in high schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

In addition, nursing assistants typically complete a brief period of on-the-job training to learn about their specific employer’s policies and procedures.

Orderlies typically have at least a high school diploma and receive a short period of on-the-job training.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

After completing a state-approved education program, nursing assistants take a competency exam. Passing this exam allows them to use state-specific titles. In some states, a nursing assistant or aide is called a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but titles vary from state to state.

Nursing assistants who have passed the competency exam are placed on a state registry. They must be on the state registry to work in a nursing home.

Some states have other requirements as well, such as continuing education and a criminal background check. Check with state boards of nursing or health for more information.

In some states, nursing assistants can earn additional credentials, such as becoming a Certified Medication Assistant (CMA). As a CMA, they can give medications.

Orderlies do not need a license, however, many jobs require a basic life support (BLS) certification, which shows they are trained to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Nursing assistants and orderlies must communicate effectively to address patients’ or residents’ concerns. They also need to relay important information to other healthcare workers.

Compassion. Nursing assistants and orderlies assist and care for the sick, injured, and elderly. Doing so requires a compassionate and empathetic attitude.

Patience. The routine tasks of cleaning, feeding, and bathing patients or residents can be stressful. Nursing assistants and orderlies must have patience to complete these tasks.

Physical stamina. Nursing assistants and orderlies spend much of their time on their feet. They should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting or moving patients.

Pay About this section

Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Median annual wages, May 2018

Total, all occupations: $38,640
Nursing assistants: $28,540
Nursing assistants and orderlies: $28,530
Orderlies: $28,060
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides: $26,810

The median annual wage for nursing assistants was $28,540 in May 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,290, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $39,560.

The median annual wage for orderlies was $28,060 in May 2018. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,010, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $41,460.

In May 2018, the median annual wages for nursing assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Government	$33,800
Hospitals; state, local, and private	30,050
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	27,840
Home healthcare services	27,290
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	27,200

In May 2018, the median annual wages for orderlies in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Ambulatory healthcare services	$29,780
Government	29,490
Hospitals; state, local, and private	28,430
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	24,340
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	23,830

Most nursing assistants and orderlies work full time. Because nursing homes and hospitals provide care at all hours, nursing aides and orderlies may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Job Outlook About this section

Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Percent change in employment, projected 2018-28

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides: 18%
Nursing assistants: 9%
Nursing assistants and orderlies: 9%
Total, all occupations: 5%
Orderlies: 5%

Employment of nursing assistants is projected to grow 9 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of orderlies is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to assist and care for elderly patients in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Older people are more likely than younger people to have disorders such as dementia, or to live with chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. More nursing assistants will be needed to care for patients with these conditions.

Demand for nursing assistants may be constrained by the fact that many nursing homes rely on government funding. Cuts to programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, may affect patients’ ability to pay for nursing home care. In addition, patient preferences and shifts in federal and state funding are increasing the demand for home and community-based long-term care, which should lead to increased opportunities for nursing assistants working in home health and community rehabilitation services.

Job Prospects

The low pay and high emotional and physical demands cause many workers to leave the occupation, and they will have to be replaced. This creates opportunities for jobseekers.

Employment projections data for nursing assistants and orderlies, 2018-28
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2018	Projected Employment, 2028	Change, 2018-28		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2018	Projected Employment, 2028	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Nursing assistants and orderlies	—	1,564,200	1,702,000	9	137,800	—
Nursing assistants	31-1014	1,513,200	1,648,600	9	135,400	Get data
Orderlies	31-1015	51,000	53,400	5	2,400	Get data

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment Statistics (OES)

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of nursing assistants and orderlies.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2018 MEDIAN PAY
Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides	Home health aides and personal care aides help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairment by assisting in their daily living activities.	High school diploma or equivalent	$24,060
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic nursing care.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$46,240
Medical Assistants	Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals, offices of physicians, and other healthcare facilities.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$33,610
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides	Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.	See How to Become One	$57,620
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides	Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities.	See How to Become One	$30,860
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides	Physical therapist assistants and aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.	See How to Become One	$48,090
Registered Nurses	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions.	Bachelor's degree	$71,730
Dental Assistants	Dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, recordkeeping and schedule appointments.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$38,660
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks.	High school diploma or equivalent	$27,540

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about nursing assistants and orderlies, visit

National Association of Health Care Assistants

National Network of Career Nursing Assistants

CareerOneStop

For a career video on nursing assistants, visit

Nursing Assistants

O*NET

Nursing Assistants

Orderlies

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nursing Assistants and Orderlies,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm (visited November 06, 2019).

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2019

What They Do

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2018 Median Pay

The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment Statistics survey. In May 2018, the median annual wage for all workers was $38,640.

On-the-job Training

Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation.

Entry-level Education

Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

Work experience in a related occupation

Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education.