Nursing Assistant

What it pays in the U.S.

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.

Wage figures are 2025 survey data for United States, shown nationally because no state figure was reported. They describe what people in this job earn now, not what any one person will be offered.

What the work actually is

• Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
• Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
• Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
• Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
• Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
• Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.

Read the full Occupational Outlook Handbook entry from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Licensing, by state

Licensing is set by each state, so there is no national answer. Choose a state above to see which licenses it requires for this career, or look one up with the CareerOneStop License Finder.

Certifications employers recognize

These are national certifications, issued by industry bodies rather than a state. Most are optional, but they are how you prove skill to an employer.

• STCW Medical First Aid Provider / PIC of Medical Care

  United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center · Advanced

• Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant

  Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association · Specialty

• Basic Life Support Certification

  American Red Cross · Skill

• Nationally Certified Patient Care Technician

  National Center for Competency Testing · Core

• Bloodborne Pathogens

  American Red Cross · Core

• Certified Wound Care Associate

  American Board of Wound Management · Specialty

• Certified Alzheimer Caregiver

  National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care · Specialty

• Medication Aide Certification

  National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. · Core

• National Nurse Aide Assessment Program

  National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. · Core

• Certified Patient Care Technician

  National Performance Specialists · Core

• Patient Care Technician

  American Medical Technologists · Core

• Patient Care Technician Certification

  American Medical Certification Association · Core

Apprenticeships, by state

Registered apprenticeships pay you while you train. Each state runs its own registration office, which is where to start when you want to find an open program.

Choose a state above to see the offices that register apprenticeships there.

Search open programs directly at apprenticeship.gov.