Nursing Assistants
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.
Also called: Birth Attendant, Certified Medication Aide (CMA), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Certified Nurses Aide (CNA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Median pay
$42,260
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$33,940 – $51,980
People employed
1,448,910
Holland code
SRC
Social · Realistic · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 2.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 5.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
Nursing Assistants pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What nursing assistants do
- 01Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- 02Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- 03Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- 04Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- 05Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- 06Provide 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.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Medicine and Dentistry
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from nursing assistants
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses91% · +52%
- Registered Nurses84% · +131%
- Occupational Therapy Assistants84% · +71%
- Occupational Therapy Aides84% · −7%
- Paramedics82% · +43%
Change into nursing assistants
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Occupational Therapy Aides87% · $39,160
- Medical Assistants82% · $45,690
- Dietetic Technicians81% · $37,640
- Physical Therapist Aides81% · $35,240
- Acute Care Nurses79% · $97,550
Majors that lead here
- Health Aide
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide
- Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.