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Orderlies


At a Glance

  • Work in hospitals and nursing homes
  • Work under supervision of doctors and nurses
  • Do a variety of tasks from bathing patients to taking blood pressure
  • Wear uniforms and safety gear, such as latex gloves
  • Train on the job

Career summary

Orderlies perform a variety of tasks that help other medical staff.

Orderlies lift and move patients on or off beds, exam tables, or stretchers. They also transport patients between units or rooms.  They help patients get in and out of wheelchairs. They may help patients perform daily living tasks, such as getting out of bed, using the toilet, bathing, and walking. Sometimes orderlies may restrain patients to prevent injury or to assist physicians and nurses. Some orderlies may take and record vital signs, such as blood pressure and pulse.

Orderlies keep equipment and supplies clean, sterilized, and stocked. They document any needed repairs and maintenance. They may change soiled linens, such as bedsheets and drapes. They clean patient rooms, bathrooms, and other areas patients use. Orderlies often transport medical equipment between rooms and departments.

Orderlies collect and transport infectious or hazardous waste. They dispose of it safely, in keeping with all standards and laws. They also transpots specimens and lab items to the proper medical worker. Orderlies may also deliver messages between departments.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Military careers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to orderlies.

Common work activities

Orderlies perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, orderlies:

Interpersonal relationships

Physical work conditions

Work performance

Hours/travel

Physical demands

Orderlies frequently:

It is important for orderlies to be able to:

It is not as important, but still necessary, for orderlies to be able to:

Skills and abilities

Orderlies need to:

Communicate

Reason and problem solve

Work with people

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as an orderly, you typically need to:

Education after high school

Orderly jobs tend to be entry-level jobs that require little or no previous work experience. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or equivalent.

On-the-job training

Most orderlies receive training on the job. Training may last up to a month. You learn to help patients with wheelchairs, clean equipment and facilities, and stock supplies.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be medical care technicians. Training lasts seven to 52 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements (external link). You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups (PDF file) that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers require a high school diploma or equivalent. They look for workers who can relate well to patients, families, volunteers, and other staff. A genuine interest in, and a positive attitude about, working with patients and the elderly is important. The ability to read, write, speak,and understand English is also important.

#Pulled most content from job announcements on US Jobs website for positions that were for orderly type rather than NAC jobs, 10/31/16 cj.

Costs to workers

Orderlies need to have comfortable shoes and may also need to buy uniforms. Some facilities allow workers to wear lab coats over their street clothes.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link).

Wages

Orderlies (SOC 31-1015)

Location
Pay Period
10%
25%
Median
75%
90%
Washington Hourly $11.86 $12.66 $14.88 $17.90 $20.78
Monthly $2,055 $2,194 $2,579 $3,102 $3,601
Yearly $24,680 $26,330 $30,940 $37,230 $43,220
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Hourly $12.23 $12.93 $15.23 $18.69 $22.02
Monthly $2,119 $2,241 $2,639 $3,239 $3,816
Yearly $25,435 $26,896 $31,696 $38,886 $45,808
    Spokane-Spokane Valley Hourly $13.09 $14.37 $16.60 $18.72 $20.05
Monthly $2,268 $2,490 $2,877 $3,244 $3,475
Yearly $27,210 $29,887 $34,526 $38,937 $41,707
    Vancouver Hourly $12.77 $14.07 $16.17 $18.67 $20.25
Monthly $2,213 $2,438 $2,802 $3,236 $3,509
Yearly $26,553 $29,259 $33,642 $38,840 $42,113
United States Hourly $10.10 $11.33 $13.49 $16.64 $19.93
Monthly $1,750 $1,963 $2,338 $2,884 $3,454
Yearly $21,010 $23,570 $28,060 $34,610 $41,460

Wages vary by employer and by level of experience and responsibility.

Depending on the employer, orderlies who work full time may receive health insurance, paid leave, and a retirement plan. However, many jobs are part time and not all employers offer benefits.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Orderlies (SOC 31-1015)

Location Current employment Growth over 10 years Annual openings
This
occupation
All
occupations
Washington 431 24.1% 16.1% 74
    Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties 16 25.0% 15.2% 2
    Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties 51 21.6% 14.6% 8
    King County 42 28.6% 19.6% 7
    Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties 50 6.0% 13.8% 6
    Pierce County 159 26.4% 15.2% 28
    Snohomish County 75 24.0% 12.4% 13
    Spokane County 39 20.5% 13.9% 6
United States 51,000 4.7% 5.2% 6,100

National employment

Major employers:

National outlook

Demand is about average for this occupation. Growth is mainly due to the increase in the aging population. Conditions such as dementia lead to a need for orderlies. The strongest demand for orderlies will be at residential care homes.

Many job openings will occur as people leave the occupation. This is a physically-demanding job and some people leave to find better paying jobs.

Other resources

Explore Health Careers: Nurses Aide/Nursing Assistant (external link)
Washington State Nurses Association (external link)
575 Andover Park West
Suite 101
Tukwila, WA 98188
206.575.7979
800.231.8482

References

Career cluster

Career path

O*Net (external link) occupation

O*Net job zone (external link)

DOT occupation

Holland occupational cluster

COPSystem