What Nursing Assistants do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Nursing Assistants this way: "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."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs"; "Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care"; "Change bed linens or make beds"; "Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas"; "Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is postsecondary nondegree award.
Job outlook for Nursing Assistants
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 1,505,900 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 1,544,900 in 2035, an increase of 39,000 jobs (+2.6%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 196,200 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 13.0% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $42,260, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Nursing Assistants earn the most
Across the 34 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $37,130 in Texas to $50,153 in Washington, a gap of $13,023 (1.35 times). 21 of those 34 states average above the BLS national median of $42,260 and 13 average at or below it.
New Jersey employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 119,040, which is 6.8% of the 1,743,150 counted across them. California follows with 109,350.
Highest-paying states
Washington ($50,153), Oregon ($49,511) and California ($48,606) lead the ranking, while Texas ($37,130) and Florida ($37,589) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Nursing Assistants: pay against the cost of living
We compare 60 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Jefferson County, WV (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV) at $17,769. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $1,273 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 58 of the 60 markets and falls short in 2. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 30.7% and 82.7% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Nursing Assistants
Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (31-1000) include Home Health and Personal Care Aides.
Frequently asked questions about Nursing Assistants
What is the national median wage for Nursing Assistants?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $42,260. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $37,130 to $50,153.
Which state pays Nursing Assistants the most?
Washington, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $50,153. Oregon is next at $49,511.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Assistants?
BLS projects employment to grow by 2.6% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 196,200 openings a year.
What education do Nursing Assistants need?
The typical entry-level education is postsecondary nondegree award, according to BLS.
Where can Nursing Assistants afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Jefferson County, WV leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $17,769 on a median wage of $45,730.