Nursing Assistants
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Nursing Assistants in the United States earn a median salary of $42,260 per year — about $20 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 1.5M people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +2%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core duties of nursing assistants and orderlies—such as bathing, dressing, and physically transferring patients—are highly manual and require real-time human presence in unpredictable physical environments. While AI may assist with peripheral tasks like recording vital signs or scheduling, the primary work product is physical care and interpersonal support, which remains largely insulated from AI automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND-MNBEST VALUE | $45,740 | Below avg (86.7) | $52,779 |
| Rochester, MN | $46,840 | Below avg (90.8) | $51,574 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $56,840 | Above avg (110.4) | $51,475 |
| Bismarck, ND | $46,720 | Below avg (91.0) | $51,327 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $48,570 | Below avg (94.7) | $51,269 |
| Mankato, MN | $46,430 | Below avg (91.0) | $51,047 |
| Vineland, NJ | $48,890 | Below avg (96.0) | $50,944 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $49,770 | Average (97.8) | $50,910 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $45,470 | Below avg (90.5) | $50,220 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $47,050 | Below avg (94.0) | $50,046 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $44,250 | Below avg (88.8) | $49,849 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $48,520 | Average (98.4) | $49,334 |
| Pueblo, CO | $45,270 | Below avg (91.8) | $49,334 |
| Yakima, WA | $47,080 | Below avg (95.5) | $49,275 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $47,830 | Average (97.5) | $49,034 |