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Hospitals & health systems
HCA Healthcare, Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
Orderlies
Orderlies move patients, clean equipment, and keep hospital units supplied and orderly. The job is hands-on and physically demanding, with a lot of lifting, disinfecting, and quick response when a floor is busy or an emergency comes up. It is accessible with a high school diploma and short training, but the pay is modest and the work can be repetitive, heavy, and stressful.
Also known as Patient TransporterPatient EscortHospital OrderlyHospital TransporterTransport Aide
Median Salary
$37,700
Mean $40,070
U.S. Workforce
~53K
7.8K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.3%
54K to 55.8K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Orderlies sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~53K workers, with a median annual pay of $37,700 and roughly 7.8K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 54 K in 2024 to 55.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Patient Transport Aide and can progress toward Patient Care Technician. High-value skills usually include Wheelchairs, Stretchers & Patient Transfer Equipment, Disinfection, Sterilization & Infection Control Procedures, and Safe Lifting Techniques & Body Mechanics, paired with soft skills such as Service orientation, Social perceptiveness, and Active listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Wipe down wheelchairs, beds, and other equipment, and flag anything that needs repair.
- Clean and sanitize tools and supplies so they are safe for the next patient.
- Help move patients between beds, exam rooms, operating rooms, and other departments.
- Push wheelchairs, stretchers, and movable beds while keeping patients stable and comfortable.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Wipe down wheelchairs, beds, and other equipment, and flag anything that needs repair.
02 Clean and sanitize tools and supplies so they are safe for the next patient.
03 Help move patients between beds, exam rooms, operating rooms, and other departments.
04 Push wheelchairs, stretchers, and movable beds while keeping patients stable and comfortable.
05 Carry papers, messages, supplies, and small equipment between units when staff need them.
06 Respond when a unit needs help during a fire alarm, emergency call, or other urgent situation.
Industries That Hire
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Nursing care & assisted living
Brookdale Senior Living, The Ensign Group, Genesis HealthCare
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Rehabilitation & recovery centers
Encompass Health, Select Medical, PAM Health
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Outpatient surgery & specialty clinics
Surgery Partners, United Surgical Partners International, Tenet Healthcare
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a degree; the typical entry point is a high school diploma and short-term training.
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There are steady openings because healthcare facilities need support staff; the role shows about 7.8K annual openings.
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The work is concrete and immediate: you can see patients and staff benefit from the help you provide the same day.
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It gives you daily exposure to hospitals and care teams, which can be a useful stepping-stone into nursing or other clinical jobs.
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The job mixes movement, patient contact, and equipment handling, so it is more varied than many desk jobs.
Challenges
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The pay is modest for the physical effort, with a median annual wage of $37,700 and a mean of $40,070.
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A lot of the work involves lifting, pushing stretchers, cleaning, and moving equipment, so the job can be hard on your back, knees, and shoulders.
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Growth is slow at 3.3% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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The career ceiling is fairly low unless you go back for more training and move into nursing, patient care, or another healthcare role.
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Some duties are routine support work, such as moving messages or cleaning equipment, so hospitals can reorganize or automate parts of the job even if patient-handling tasks still need people.
Career Progression
Patient Transport Aide
0-1 years
$30K-$35K
Learns the layout of the facility, moves patients and supplies, and follows close supervision on safety and infection control.
Orderly
1-3 years
$35K-$42K
Handles routine patient transfers, equipment cleaning, and urgent support work across a unit or department.
Senior Orderly THIS ROLE
3-6 years
$42K-$48K
Takes on more complex transfers, helps newer staff, and is trusted with busier shifts and higher-pressure situations.
Patient Care Technician
5+ years
$48K-$58K
Adds more direct patient care duties and often supports nurses with a broader mix of bedside tasks.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 89.32% of workers in this role.
Less than a high school diploma
A smaller path, held by 6.55% of workers, though applicants still need basic reading, safety, and communication skills.
Post-secondary certificate
An alternative route, held by 4.13% of workers, often through a short healthcare aide or patient transport program.
Short-term on-the-job training
Many employers teach the job after hiring, with training focused on safe transfers, cleaning procedures, and unit routines.
Key Skills
Technical
Wheelchairs, Stretchers & Patient Transfer Equipment 74%
Disinfection, Sterilization & Infection Control Procedures 72%
Safe Lifting Techniques & Body Mechanics 70%
Medical Equipment Cleaning & Maintenance Checks 68%
Hospital Paging Systems, Radios & Transport Logs 60%
Soft Skills
Service orientationSocial perceptivenessActive listeningSpeaking clearlyCoordinationAttention to detail Job Outlook and Trends
+3.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
7.8K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 54K to 55.8 K over the next decade, representing 3.3% growth. Around 7.8 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.