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For Educators: Military Resources

Nursing Assistants

Median Salary
38,200
Job Outlook
+14%
In-Demand

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

What sectors do they work in?

Private for profit

72%

Private not for profit

17%

State and local government

6%

Self-employed

3%

Federal Government

2%

What is the job outlook?

Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 4 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 216,200 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$21,100

10%

$38,200

Median

$46,260

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • High school

    38%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    23%

  • Some college

    12%

  • Associate's degree

    9%

  • Bachelor's degree

    6%

  • First professional degree

    3%

  • Master's degree

    2%

  • Less than high school

    2%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other
  • Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide
  • Health Aide

Skills and Interest

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Psychology
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Public Safety and Security

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Social

You love connecting with people, helping others and making a difference in your community.

Realistic

You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.