Health Professions And Related Programs

Best Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies institutions in the US, ranked by earnings

Compare 92 U.S. colleges offering Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 20 states.

Institutions
92
offering CIP 51.26
States offered
20
with a program page
With earnings data
9
College Scorecard
Degrees / yr
3,143
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$21,729
1 year after graduation
US pay · Psychiatric Aides
$43,610
BLS OEWS 2024

About Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs

The Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies program prepares students for essential roles in the healthcare field, focusing on providing support to patients with various needs. This program is ideal for individuals who are compassionate and eager to assist others in a medical setting, whether in hospitals, nursing homes, or home care environments.

Learn more about Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies

What you'll learn

Students in this program will develop core skills in communication, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework covers essential knowledge areas such as psychology, therapy and counseling, and customer service, equipping graduates to effectively support patients and collaborate with healthcare professionals.

Top 9 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate degree
$33,80214740%
2New Community Career & Technical Institute
Newark, NJ Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree
$27,7181454%$5,716$2,020
3Carrington College - Mesa
Mesa, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$26,1051354%$48,051$7,680
4Carrington College - Tucson
Tucson, AZ Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$26,105866%$41,198$7,680
5Northshore Technical Community College
Lacombe, LA Public · Certificate degree
$21,7293440%
6Louisiana Delta Community College
Monroe, LA Public · Certificate degree
$19,2173130%$7,823
7Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Alexandria, LA Public · Certificate degree
$18,7072270%$7,750
8Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College
Minden, LA Public · Certificate degree
$17,6496677%
9NUC University
Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · Certificate degree
$9,0722254%$9,377$9,500

Offered across 20 states

The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.

StateInstitutionsMedian earningsTop institution by earnings
Indianalimited1$33,802Ivy Tech Community College
New Jerseylimited2$27,718New Community Career & Technical Institute
Arizona4$26,105Carrington College - Mesa
Louisiana5$19,217Northshore Technical Community College
Florida8
Arkansas3
California12
Illinois3
Kansas23
Michiganlimited2
New Mexicolimited1
New Yorklimited2
Ohiolimited1
Oklahoma8
South Carolinalimited2
Utahlimited1
Washingtonlimited1
West Virginialimited1
Texaslimited2
Virginialimited1

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 31-1133, Psychiatric Aides, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies program can pursue careers as health aides, home health aides, or rehabilitation aides. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment opportunities, with approximately 5,300 annual openings and a median wage of $41,590. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into this field.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-0.4%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~5,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$41,590
typically High school diploma or equivalent
National employment
34,900
Psychiatric Aides
US average pay
$43,610
annual, BLS OEWS 2024
US median pay
$41,590
annual

Top-paying metros

Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY
$72,390avg
Utica-Rome, NY
$66,090avg
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$60,950avg
Fresno, CA
$60,590avg
Trenton-Princeton, NJ
$57,160avg

Related careers

Nursing Assistants
$41,270 avg · 1,388,430 jobs
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
$48,760 avg · 103,650 jobs
Physical Therapist Aides
$35,510 avg · 44,010 jobs
Psychiatric Aides
$43,610 avg · 34,900 jobs
Occupational Therapy Aides
$41,850 avg · 5,000 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Speaking
Active Listening
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Learning Strategies

Knowledge areas

Psychology
Customer and Personal Service
Therapy and Counseling
English Language
Administrative
Sociology and Anthropology

What graduates do on the job

  • Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.
  • Provide patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.
  • Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.
  • Restrain or aid patients as necessary to prevent injury.
  • Work as part of a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, or social workers.
  • Record and maintain patient information, such as vital signs, eating habits, behavior, progress notes, treatments, or discharge plans.

Tools & technology

Email softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordPatient management software

Concentrations within Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies

Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).

  • Health Aide
    CIP 51.2601

    A program that prepares individuals to provide routine care and assistance to patients under the direct supervision of other health care professionals, and/or to perform routine maintenance and genera

  • Home Health Aide/Home Attendant
    CIP 51.2602

    A program that prepares individuals to provide routine care and support services for homebound disabled, recovering, or elderly people

  • Medication Aide
    CIP 51.2603

    A program that prepares individuals to administer prescribed medications; observe and report patient reactions and side effects; and perform related emergency and recording duties under the supervisio

  • Rehabilitation Aide
    CIP 51.2604

    A program that prepares individuals to assist in rehabilitation services under the supervision of occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other therapeutic professionals, and to per

  • Physical Therapy Technician/Aide
    CIP 51.2605

    A program that prepares individuals to assist in rehabilitation services under the supervision of physical therapists, and to perform routine functions in support of physical therapy and rehabilitatio

  • Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Other
    CIP 51.2699

    Any other instructional program that prepares individuals to provide routine patient care and assistance.

Common questions

What types of specializations are available in this program?+

Specializations include Health Aide, Home Health Aide/Home Attendant, Medication Aide, Rehabilitation Aide, and Physical Therapy Technician/Aide.

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and learning strategies.

What is the job outlook for health aides and attendants?+

The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 5,300 annual openings.

What education is required to enter this field?+

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for entry into the health aides and attendants field.

Related programs

Other programs in the same field of study.

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