HEALTH Specialization

Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies

Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates pursue 1 occupations, with top roles paying $42,260/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

About Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies

Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies is a focused area of study within Health. The program is available at 125 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 2,244 students complete this program each year, most earning a doctorate. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.


Colleges Offering
125
Graduates / Year
2,244
Avg Net Price / yr
$13,263

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 2,244 students who complete Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs each year, the majority (91%) earn a doctorate degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Doctorate 91%
Certificate 8%
Associate's 1%

What Can You Do With a Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies Degree?

Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies connects to 1 occupations in the job market. Nursing Assistant leads at $42,260/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

↗ +2.3% Zone 3: Medium preparation
$42,260
$37K $47K 25th–75th pct.
Postsecondary nondegree award 204,100 openings/yr 1.4M employed nationally
Service Orientation Active Listening Social Perceptiveness Monitoring Reading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities

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.

  • Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
  • Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
  • Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.

Top Colleges for Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies

The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN · Public 148 Open $7,258 $37,186
2 Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology Wichita, KS · Public 135 Open $8,805 $38,679
3 Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LA · Public 108 Open $10,773 $29,734
4 Salina Area Technical College Salina, KS · Public 74 Open $6,468 $42,175
5 Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KS · Public 71 Open $6,727 $43,470
6 New Professions Technical Institute Miami, FL · For-Profit 67 Open $50,756 $25,962
7 Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH · Public 50 Open $10,369 $37,275
8 Neosho County Community College Chanute, KS · Public 49 Open $10,271 $45,966
9 Highland Community College Highland, KS · Public 39 Open $10,454 $41,291
10 Fort Hays Tech North Central Beloit, KS · Public 33 Open $12,393 $46,928
11 Barton County Community College Great Bend, KS · Public 29 Open $9,905 $40,428
12 Cowley County Community College Arkansas City, KS · Public 27 Open $7,175 $37,723
13 Garden City Community College Garden City, KS · Public 27 Open $8,244 $41,704
14 Flint Hills Technical College Emporia, KS · Public 27 Open $16,017 $47,007
15 The College of Health Care Professions-Southwest Houston Houston, TX · For-Profit 23 Open $28,471 $33,070
16 Pratt Community College Pratt, KS · Public 20 Open $9,731 $51,892
17 Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC · Public 18 Open $14,670 $40,101
18 Kansas City Kansas Community College Kansas City, KS · Public 17 Open $16,744 $40,795
19 University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR · Public 16 Open $14,327 $34,722
20 Central Louisiana Technical Community College Alexandria, LA · Public 15 Open $5,702 $29,558

Ranked by Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies shows 1 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS
  • Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 204,100 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
  • Licensure often required Most roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
  • Slow job growth Top related careers project less than 3% growth over the next decade; limited expansion means more competition for new openings.

Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with a Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies degree?
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies degree holders pursue careers including Nursing Assistant, which pays a median of $42,260/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies program take?
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs most commonly culminate in a doctoral degree, requiring four or more years of graduate study after completing a bachelor's or master's in the field.
How many colleges offer Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies?
125 colleges and universities in the United States offer Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
What is the difference between Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies and Health?
Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies is a focused concentration within the broader Health field. The Health major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates?
Employers hiring Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates consistently prioritize clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles.
Is graduate school worth it for Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies graduates?
In health fields, advanced degrees (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically unlock significantly higher salaries and expanded scope of practice, making graduate education a strong investment for most students. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.

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