Orderlies Career, Salary and Skills
Orderlies have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $38,290 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 52,440. Wage data is published for 170 locations.
Occupation description
Transport patients to areas such as operating rooms or x-ray rooms using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds. May maintain stocks of supplies or clean and transport equipment. Psychiatric orderlies are included in Psychiatric Aides.
O*NET code
31-1132.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$38,290
Hourly median
$18.41
Employment
52,440
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.38 | 2.50 |
| Service Orientation | 3.38 | 2.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 2.50 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.12 |
| Coordination | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.75 | 2.12 |
| Writing | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Monitoring | 2.62 | 2.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.62 | 1.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.50 | 2.00 |
Typical 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.
- Carry messages or documents between departments.
- Restrain patients to prevent violence or injury or to assist physicians or nurses to administer treatments.
Technology
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Medical record charting software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Windows
Orderlies salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Orderlies Salary in New York, NYMedian $45,850 · Employment 4,970
- Orderlies Salary in CAMedian $49,920 · Employment 4,870
- Orderlies Salary in NYMedian $46,600 · Employment 4,680
- Orderlies Salary in FLMedian $35,420 · Employment 4,440
- Orderlies Salary in PAMedian $40,140 · Employment 3,550
- Orderlies Salary in NJMedian $38,670 · Employment 2,640
- Orderlies Salary in GAMedian $36,100 · Employment 2,410
- Orderlies Salary in OHMedian $37,030 · Employment 2,360
- Orderlies Salary in TXMedian $37,650 · Employment 2,320
- Orderlies Salary in ILMedian $39,450 · Employment 2,110
- Orderlies Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $49,760 · Employment 1,890
- Orderlies Salary in MAMedian $38,970 · Employment 1,810
Related careers
- Occupational Therapy AssistantsNational median $72,300
- Respiratory TherapistsNational median $82,280
- Patient RepresentativesNational median $50,290
- Registered NursesNational median $97,550
- Anesthesiologist AssistantsNational median $135,880
- Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansNational median $74,310
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesNational median $64,400
- Acute Care NursesNational median $97,550
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.