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Nursing Assistants

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

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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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $42,260/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$33,940$51,980

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +2.3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 204,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Service OrientationSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningMonitoringReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingCoordinationActive LearningJudgment and Decision Making
Top knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityMedicine and DentistryEducation and TrainingTherapy and CounselingPsychology
Core tasks

• Turn or reposition bedridden patients.

• Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.

• Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.

• Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.

• Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.

• Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.

• Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.

• Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Nursing Assistants?

The median pay for Nursing Assistants is $42,260 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?

Employment for Nursing Assistants is projected to change +2.3% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Nursing Assistants?

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

How many job openings are there each year for Nursing Assistants?

About 204,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.