How much does an orderly make?
a year · about $18 an hour
A typical orderly in the United States makes $38,290 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They wheel patients on beds, stretchers, or wheelchairs to places like X-ray or surgery, then clean equipment and treatment areas. Between trips, they may change linens and restock supplies.
Did you know? An orderly may carry lab samples and infectious waste in sealed containers—not just patients.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $32,240 and $50,600How do you become one?
In the U.S., most orderlies start after earning a high school diploma or GED, then learn the facility's procedures through short on-the-job training. No license is needed, but some employers require CPR or basic life support certification.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience and job skills, CPR/BLS certification, employer type, and location; BLS reports differences across industries and areas. Night, weekend, or holiday shifts may also affect total pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($49,920), lowest in Louisiana ($27,330).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $32,240 | $38,290 | $50,600 | about 52,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $49,920 | about 5,000 |
| New York | $46,600 | about 5,000 |
| Oregon | $45,120 | about 500 |
| Colorado | $43,570 | about 540 |
| Wisconsin | $41,380 | about 660 |
Official definition: Transport patients to areas such as operating rooms or x-ray rooms using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds. May maintain stocks of supplies or clean and transport equipment. Excludes “Nursing Assistants” (31-1131). Psychiatric orderlies are included in “Psychiatric Aides” (31-1133).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-1132.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY