Orderlies salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Mean (average) | $40,660 | $19.55 |
| 90th percentile | $50,600 | $24.33 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Orderlies pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 48 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,310 | $26,590 | $35,270 | 400 | 0.57 |
| Alaska | $39,410 | $38,350 | $52,560 | 70 | 0.62 |
| Arizona | $37,380 | $34,350 | $46,360 | 1,220 | 1.12 |
| Arkansas | $31,540 | $25,650 | $37,330 | 170 | 0.39 |
| California | $49,920 | $39,630 | $74,010 | 4,870 | 0.79 |
| Colorado | $43,570 | $37,610 | $47,220 | 540 | 0.56 |
| Connecticut | $37,550 | $34,890 | $46,710 | 980 | 1.72 |
| Delaware | $43,800 | $36,620 | $43,800 | 190 | 1.19 |
| District of Columbia | $39,250 | $36,670 | $46,160 | 120 | 0.5 |
| Florida | $35,420 | $32,610 | $38,930 | 4,440 | 1.32 |
| Georgia | $36,100 | $30,020 | $45,160 | 2,410 | 1.46 |
| Hawaii | $47,130 | $42,080 | $47,680 | 80 | 0.36 |
| Idaho | $38,650 | $37,530 | $46,700 | 300 | 1.02 |
| Illinois | $39,450 | $34,870 | $44,920 | 2,110 | 1.02 |
| Indiana | $38,540 | $32,120 | $41,450 | 1,060 | 0.98 |
| Iowa | $36,850 | $33,570 | $43,580 | 260 | 0.49 |
| Kansas | $37,140 | $31,200 | $45,150 | 200 | 0.42 |
| Kentucky | $35,260 | $30,150 | $40,500 | 710 | 1.05 |
| Louisiana | $27,330 | $24,230 | $33,740 | 600 | 0.93 |
| Maine | $42,530 | $39,410 | $45,980 | 150 | 0.68 |
| Maryland | $38,210 | $33,900 | $49,050 | 1,580 | 1.69 |
| Massachusetts | $38,970 | $36,660 | $48,310 | 1,810 | 1.48 |
| Michigan | $36,220 | $32,740 | $41,940 | 1,700 | 1.15 |
| Minnesota | $44,550 | $36,610 | $51,190 | 430 | 0.43 |
| Mississippi | $29,790 | $26,840 | $36,980 | 440 | 1.11 |
| Missouri | $35,620 | $31,770 | $42,020 | 870 | 0.88 |
| Nevada | $35,850 | $31,270 | $47,550 | 470 | 0.89 |
| New Hampshire | $40,850 | $35,900 | $48,530 | 140 | 0.59 |
| New Jersey | $38,670 | $34,770 | $45,980 | 2,640 | 1.83 |
| New Mexico | $37,650 | $35,020 | $45,920 | 130 | 0.45 |
| New York | $46,600 | $36,150 | $55,790 | 4,680 | 1.43 |
| North Carolina | $38,680 | $33,570 | $46,230 | 1,730 | 1.04 |
| North Dakota | $38,240 | $33,170 | $43,210 | 70 | 0.49 |
| Ohio | $37,030 | $33,880 | $42,270 | 2,360 | 1.26 |
| Oklahoma | $34,430 | $31,050 | $38,960 | 370 | 0.65 |
| Oregon | $45,120 | $39,530 | $55,850 | 500 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,140 | $36,350 | $45,450 | 3,550 | 1.74 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,330 | $21,840 | $25,370 | 630 | 1.98 |
| Rhode Island | $39,830 | $36,490 | $48,620 | 210 | 1.23 |
| South Carolina | $36,480 | $29,640 | $46,300 | 1,430 | 1.84 |
| Tennessee | $31,840 | $26,720 | $45,030 | 1,200 | 1.08 |
| Texas | $37,650 | $30,680 | $44,820 | 2,320 | 0.49 |
| Vermont | $48,120 | $34,420 | $57,810 | 70 | 0.65 |
| Virginia | $36,960 | $30,840 | $51,230 | 900 | 0.65 |
| Washington | $48,690 | $35,360 | $60,570 | 200 | 0.17 |
| West Virginia | $31,770 | $29,280 | $35,990 | 250 | 1.04 |
| Wisconsin | $41,380 | $35,960 | $47,230 | 660 | 0.66 |
| Wyoming | $37,410 | $31,330 | $37,410 | 50 | 0.52 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for orderlies
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 7,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for orderlies
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
- Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- Disinfect or sterilize equipment or supplies, using germicides or sterilizing equipment.
- Clean equipment, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, or portable medical equipment, documenting needed repairs or maintenance.
- Respond to emergency situations, such as emergency medical calls, security calls, or fire alarms.
- Change soiled linens, such as bed linens, drapes, or cubicle curtains.
- Carry messages or documents between departments.
- Transport portable medical equipment or medical supplies between rooms or departments.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Medical record charting software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Attendant, Operating Room Assistant, Orderly, Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Patient Care Technician (PCT), Patient Escort, Patient Transporter, Radiology Transporter, Transporter.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do orderlies make?
The national median annual wage for orderlies was $38,290 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $32,240 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $50,600. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do orderlies need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is orderlies a growing career?
BLS projects employment of orderlies to change +4.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 7,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay orderlies the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($49,920), Washington ($48,690), Vermont ($48,120). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.