Jobs Similar to Nursing Assistants
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to nursing assistants, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Occupational Therapy Assistants and Occupational Therapy Aides.
Nursing Assistants: $42,260 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Nursing Assistants) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 81% | $64,400+52% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 80% | $72,300+71% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 80% | $39,160−7% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Physical Therapist Aides | 79% | $35,240−17% | High school |
| 5 | Registered Nurses | 79% | $97,550+131% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | OrderliesSame group | 79% | $38,290−9% | High school |
| 7 | Psychiatric AidesSame group | 79% | $44,910+6% | High school |
| 8 | Psychiatric Technicians | 78% | $45,130+7% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 78% | $68,380+62% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Athletic Trainers | 77% | $62,520+48% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Midwives | 77% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 77% | $33,580−21% | High school |
| 13 | School Bus Monitors | 75% | $35,100−17% | High school |
| 14 | Medical Assistants | 75% | $45,690+8% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Acute Care Nurses | 75% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Dental Assistants | 75% | $48,070+14% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Animal Caretakers | 75% | $35,360−16% | High school |
| 18 | Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | 74% | $36,300−14% | High school |
| 19 | Phlebotomists | 74% | $45,230+7% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 74% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
- 1Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
81% similar · $64,400 (+52%) · Training or associate
- 2Occupational Therapy Assistants
80% similar · $72,300 (+71%) · Training or associate
- 3Occupational Therapy Aides
80% similar · $39,160 (−7%) · Training or associate
- 4Physical Therapist Aides
79% similar · $35,240 (−17%) · High school
- 5Registered Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (+131%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Orderlies
79% similar · $38,290 (−9%) · High school · Same group
- 7Psychiatric Aides
79% similar · $44,910 (+6%) · High school · Same group
- 8Psychiatric Technicians
78% similar · $45,130 (+7%) · Training or associate
- 9Physical Therapist Assistants
78% similar · $68,380 (+62%) · Training or associate
- 10Athletic Trainers
77% similar · $62,520 (+48%) · Graduate degree
- 11Midwives
77% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 12Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
77% similar · $33,580 (−21%) · High school
- 13School Bus Monitors
75% similar · $35,100 (−17%) · High school
- 14Medical Assistants
75% similar · $45,690 (+8%) · Training or associate
- 15Acute Care Nurses
75% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Dental Assistants
75% similar · $48,070 (+14%) · Training or associate
- 17Animal Caretakers
75% similar · $35,360 (−16%) · High school
- 18Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
74% similar · $36,300 (−14%) · High school
- 19Phlebotomists
74% similar · $45,230 (+7%) · Training or associate
- 20Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
74% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than nursing assistants.
- Occupational Therapy Assistants80% similar · $72,300 (+71%)
- Physical Therapist Assistants78% similar · $68,380 (+62%)
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses81% similar · $64,400 (+52%)
- Dental Assistants75% similar · $48,070 (+14%)
- Medical Assistants75% similar · $45,690 (+8%)
- Psychiatric Technicians78% similar · $45,130 (+7%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Physical Therapist Aides79% similar · High school
- Orderlies79% similar · High school
- Psychiatric Aides79% similar · High school
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers77% similar · High school
- School Bus Monitors75% similar · High school
- Animal Caretakers75% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for nursing assistants also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where nursing assistants is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like nursing assistants
What jobs are most similar to nursing assistants?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (81% similar), Occupational Therapy Assistants (80% similar), Occupational Therapy Aides (80% similar), Physical Therapist Aides (79% similar) and Registered Nurses (79% similar).
Which jobs like nursing assistants pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Registered Nurses ($97,550, +131%; usually a bachelor's degree), Occupational Therapy Assistants ($72,300, +71%; usually training or an associate degree) and Physical Therapist Assistants ($68,380, +62%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with nursing assistants ($42,260). Without more preparation than nursing assistants usually need: Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapist Assistants and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.