31 Series · SOC 31-1132
Orderlies Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $38,290
- Median / year
- $50,600
- Top 10% earn
- +3.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 52,440
- US workers
Orderlies earn a median of $38,290 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $38,290, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $32,240 (10th percentile) to $50,600 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 52,440 US workers. California pays the most ($49,920), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Orderlies earn a median of $38,290, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 9% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Support, it ranks #13 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.3% by 2033.
- $38,290
- Median annual wage
- Top 91%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #13 of 17
- in Healthcare Support
- 1.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $49,920. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Orderlies (SOC 31-1132) pays a national median of $38,290 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $32,240 at the 10th percentile to $50,600 at the 90th, with a mean of $40,660 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 52,440 Americans work in this occupation across 48 reporting states and 142 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 7,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 5.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $49,920, which is +30% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $69,870 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$38,290
per year
Median Hourly
$18.41/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$40,660
average
Employment
52,440
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Orderlies pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$38,290 Bottom 9% higher than 9% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 31-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Orderlies; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 31-series occupations with growth data, Orderlies sits on the slower-growing side at +3.3% growth and $38,290 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.3%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
7,800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
5.5/100
Danger Index
22.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Orderlies roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- ▸ Collect and transport infectious or hazardous waste in closed containers for sterilization or disposal, in accordance with applicable law, standards, or policies.
- ▸ Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
- ▸ Collect soiled linen or trash.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$32,240
25th Percentile
$35,570
Median
$38,290
75th Percentile
$44,560
90th Percentile
$50,600
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 48 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $49,920 | +30% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $48,690 | +27% above national |
| 3 | Vermont | $48,120 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii | $47,130 | +23% above national |
| 5 | New York | $46,600 | +22% above national |
| 6 | Oregon | $45,120 | +18% above national |
| 7 | Minnesota | $44,550 | +16% above national |
| 8 | Delaware | $43,800 | +14% above national |
| 9 | Colorado | $43,570 | +14% above national |
| 10 | Maine | $42,530 | +11% above national |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $41,380 | +8% above national |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $40,850 | +7% above national |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $40,140 | +5% above national |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $39,830 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Illinois | $39,450 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Alaska | $39,410 | +3% above national |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $39,250 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $38,970 | +2% above national |
| 19 | North Carolina | $38,680 | +1% above national |
| 20 | New Jersey | $38,670 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Idaho | $38,650 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Indiana | $38,540 | +1% above national |
| 23 | North Dakota | $38,240 | same as national |
| 24 | Maryland | $38,210 | same as national |
| 25 | New Mexico | $37,650 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Texas | $37,650 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Connecticut | $37,550 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Wyoming | $37,410 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Arizona | $37,380 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Kansas | $37,140 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Ohio | $37,030 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Virginia | $36,960 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Iowa | $36,850 | 4% below national |
| 34 | South Carolina | $36,480 | 5% below national |
| 35 | Michigan | $36,220 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Georgia | $36,100 | 6% below national |
| 37 | Nevada | $35,850 | 6% below national |
| 38 | Missouri | $35,620 | 7% below national |
| 39 | Florida | $35,420 | 7% below national |
| 40 | Kentucky | $35,260 | 8% below national |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $34,430 | 10% below national |
| 42 | Tennessee | $31,840 | 17% below national |
| 43 | West Virginia | $31,770 | 17% below national |
| 44 | Arkansas | $31,540 | 18% below national |
| 45 | Alabama | $31,310 | 18% below national |
| 46 | Mississippi | $29,790 | 22% below national |
| 47 | Louisiana | $27,330 | 29% below national |
| 48 | Puerto Rico | $22,330 | 42% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 142 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $69,870 | +82% above national |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $65,790 | +72% above national |
| 3 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $63,780 | +67% above national |
| 4 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,380 | +63% above national |
| 5 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $50,650 | +32% above national |
| 6 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50,110 | +31% above national |
| 7 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $50,040 | +31% above national |
| 8 | Modesto, CA | $49,890 | +30% above national |
| 9 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $49,760 | +30% above national |
| 10 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,410 | +29% above national |
| 11 | Rochester, MN | $48,290 | +26% above national |
| 12 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $47,510 | +24% above national |
| 13 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,440 | +24% above national |
| 14 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46,560 | +22% above national |
| 15 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45,850 | +20% above national |
| 16 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,110 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,920 | +17% above national |
| 18 | Utica-Rome, NY | $44,890 | +17% above national |
| 19 | Boulder, CO | $44,660 | +17% above national |
| 20 | Reading, PA | $44,510 | +16% above national |
| 21 | Rochester, NY | $44,260 | +16% above national |
| 22 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $43,930 | +15% above national |
| 23 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $43,570 | +14% above national |
| 24 | Colorado Springs, CO | $42,920 | +12% above national |
| 25 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $42,840 | +12% above national |
| 26 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $42,170 | +10% above national |
| 27 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,080 | +10% above national |
| 28 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $41,120 | +7% above national |
| 29 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $40,420 | +6% above national |
| 30 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $40,380 | +5% above national |
| 31 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $39,950 | +4% above national |
| 32 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39,800 | +4% above national |
| 33 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $39,740 | +4% above national |
| 34 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $39,730 | +4% above national |
| 35 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $39,680 | +4% above national |
| 36 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $39,640 | +4% above national |
| 37 | York-Hanover, PA | $39,630 | +3% above national |
| 38 | Anchorage, AK | $39,410 | +3% above national |
| 39 | Flint, MI | $39,310 | +3% above national |
| 40 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $39,210 | +2% above national |
| 41 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $39,180 | +2% above national |
| 42 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,160 | +2% above national |
| 43 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $39,000 | +2% above national |
| 44 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $38,920 | +2% above national |
| 45 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,770 | +1% above national |
| 46 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,690 | +1% above national |
| 47 | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,680 | +1% above national |
| 48 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $38,660 | +1% above national |
| 49 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $38,630 | +1% above national |
| 50 | Boise City, ID | $38,620 | +1% above national |
| 51 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,620 | +1% above national |
| 52 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,620 | +1% above national |
| 53 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,370 | same as national |
| 54 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $38,350 | same as national |
| 55 | Syracuse, NY | $38,280 | same as national |
| 56 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,050 | 1% below national |
| 57 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $37,930 | 1% below national |
| 58 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $37,870 | 1% below national |
| 59 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $37,760 | 1% below national |
| 60 | Cleveland, OH | $37,740 | 1% below national |
| 61 | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,740 | 1% below national |
| 62 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $37,670 | 2% below national |
| 63 | Albuquerque, NM | $37,650 | 2% below national |
| 64 | Richmond, VA | $37,560 | 2% below national |
| 65 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,410 | 2% below national |
| 66 | Fresno, CA | $37,410 | 2% below national |
| 67 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $37,380 | 2% below national |
| 68 | Columbus, OH | $37,360 | 2% below national |
| 69 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $37,150 | 3% below national |
| 70 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,090 | 3% below national |
| 71 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $37,000 | 3% below national |
| 72 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,980 | 3% below national |
| 73 | Traverse City, MI | $36,940 | 4% below national |
| 74 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $36,910 | 4% below national |
| 75 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $36,590 | 4% below national |
| 76 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,560 | 5% below national |
| 77 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $36,480 | 5% below national |
| 78 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $36,470 | 5% below national |
| 79 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $36,400 | 5% below national |
| 80 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $36,330 | 5% below national |
| 81 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,310 | 5% below national |
| 82 | Toledo, OH | $36,290 | 5% below national |
| 83 | Akron, OH | $36,250 | 5% below national |
| 84 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $36,230 | 5% below national |
| 85 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36,220 | 5% below national |
| 86 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $36,210 | 5% below national |
| 87 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,170 | 6% below national |
| 88 | Worcester, MA | $36,050 | 6% below national |
| 89 | Green Bay, WI | $35,960 | 6% below national |
| 90 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $35,840 | 6% below national |
| 91 | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,830 | 6% below national |
| 92 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $35,770 | 7% below national |
| 93 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $35,750 | 7% below national |
| 94 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $35,710 | 7% below national |
| 95 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $35,620 | 7% below national |
| 96 | Warner Robins, GA | $35,570 | 7% below national |
| 97 | Rockford, IL | $35,520 | 7% below national |
| 98 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $35,420 | 7% below national |
| 99 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,410 | 8% below national |
| 100 | Evansville, IN | $35,270 | 8% below national |
| 101 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $35,230 | 8% below national |
| 102 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $35,180 | 8% below national |
| 103 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $35,060 | 8% below national |
| 104 | Oklahoma City, OK | $35,030 | 9% below national |
| 105 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,870 | 9% below national |
| 106 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $34,760 | 9% below national |
| 107 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $34,700 | 9% below national |
| 108 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $34,690 | 9% below national |
| 109 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $34,490 | 10% below national |
| 110 | Tulsa, OK | $34,430 | 10% below national |
| 111 | Jacksonville, FL | $34,290 | 10% below national |
| 112 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $34,010 | 11% below national |
| 113 | El Paso, TX | $33,880 | 12% below national |
| 114 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $33,640 | 12% below national |
| 115 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $33,570 | 12% below national |
| 116 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $33,520 | 12% below national |
| 117 | Fayetteville, NC | $33,010 | 14% below national |
| 118 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $32,140 | 16% below national |
| 119 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $31,830 | 17% below national |
| 120 | Birmingham, AL | $31,310 | 18% below national |
| 121 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $31,250 | 18% below national |
| 122 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $31,220 | 18% below national |
| 123 | Columbus, GA-AL | $31,200 | 19% below national |
| 124 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $30,800 | 20% below national |
| 125 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $30,730 | 20% below national |
| 126 | Savannah, GA | $30,420 | 21% below national |
| 127 | Altoona, PA | $30,370 | 21% below national |
| 128 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,200 | 21% below national |
| 129 | Monroe, LA | $30,170 | 21% below national |
| 130 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $29,780 | 22% below national |
| 131 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $29,700 | 22% below national |
| 132 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $29,490 | 23% below national |
| 133 | Florence, SC | $29,430 | 23% below national |
| 134 | Jackson, MS | $28,450 | 26% below national |
| 135 | Lafayette, LA | $28,170 | 26% below national |
| 136 | Baton Rouge, LA | $27,330 | 29% below national |
| 137 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $27,270 | 29% below national |
| 138 | Hattiesburg, MS | $26,840 | 30% below national |
| 139 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $26,720 | 30% below national |
| 140 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $24,720 | 35% below national |
| 141 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,360 | 42% below national |
| 142 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,930 | 43% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 31 (healthcare support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Orderlies make? ▼
What state pays Orderlies the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Orderlies? ▼
How dangerous is being a Orderlies? ▼
Is Orderlies a good career? ▼
How does Orderlies pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Orderlies? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Orderlies pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $44,560/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $49,920/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.