Nursing Assistants
Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.
Is nursing assistants a good career?
It scores 32/100 and ranks #119 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- High volume of openings — about 204,100 a year
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($42,260 vs $61,390)
- Slower-than-average projected growth (+2.3%)
What nursing assistants earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. nursing assistants earn between $37,260 and $47,220 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live nursing assistants jobs
No live nursing assistants openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified nursing assistants openings will appear here — each shown against the $42,260 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
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- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow slower than average through 2034.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Specific requirements for nursing assistants vary by state. Nursing assistants often need a state-issued license or certification. After completing an approved education program, nursing assistants often must pass a competency exam, which allows them to use state-specific titles. In some states, a nursing assistant is called a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but titles vary by 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 certifying agencies
In some states, nursing assistants may earn additional credentials, such as Certified Medication Assistant (CMA). As a CMA, they may dispense medications.
Orderlies do not need a license; however, jobs might require certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS).
Important qualities
Communication skills. Nursing assistants and orderlies must listen and respond to patients’ concerns. They also need to share information with other healthcare workers.
Compassion. Nursing assistants and orderlies help and care for people who are sick, injured, or need aid for other reasons. They need an empathetic attitude to do their work.
Patience. The routine tasks of cleaning, feeding, and bathing patients may be stressful. Nursing assistants and orderlies must be able to complete these tasks with professionalism.
Physical stamina. Nursing assistants and orderlies spend much of their time on their feet. They must be able to perform tasks such as lifting or moving patients.
Related occupations
How much do nursing assistants make?
The national median wage is $42,260 a year, with the middle half earning between $37,260 and $47,220 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is nursing assistants a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 32 of 100 and ranks #119 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +2.3% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a nursing assistant?
The typical entry-level education is postsecondary nondegree award.
Where do nursing assistants earn the most?
Among states, Oregon pays the highest median ($49,830). Local pay for every state and metro is below.