Orderly salary in the U.S.
Orderlies in the U.S. earn a median of $38,290 a year ($18.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 52,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,600 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $40,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for orderlies in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,240 | $15.50 |
| 25th percentile | $35,570 | $17.10 |
| Median | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| 75th percentile | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,600 | $24.33 |
| Average (mean) | $40,660 | $19.55 |
Half of orderlies earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,190.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,595.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,472.69 |
| Weekly | $736.35 |
| Hourly | $18.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Orderly salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $49,920 | 4,870 |
| Washington | $48,690 | 200 |
| Vermont | $48,120 | 70 |
| Hawaii | $47,130 | 80 |
| New York | $46,600 | 4,680 |
| Oregon | $45,120 | 500 |
| Minnesota | $44,550 | 430 |
| Delaware | $43,800 | 190 |
| Colorado | $43,570 | 540 |
| Maine | $42,530 | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $41,380 | 660 |
| New Hampshire | $40,850 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,140 | 3,550 |
| Rhode Island | $39,830 | 210 |
| Illinois | $39,450 | 2,110 |
| Alaska | $39,410 | 70 |
| District of Columbia | $39,250 | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $38,970 | 1,810 |
| North Carolina | $38,680 | 1,730 |
| New Jersey | $38,670 | 2,640 |
| Idaho | $38,650 | 300 |
| Indiana | $38,540 | 1,060 |
| North Dakota | $38,240 | 70 |
| Maryland | $38,210 | 1,580 |
| New Mexico | $37,650 | 130 |
| Texas | $37,650 | 2,320 |
| Connecticut | $37,550 | 980 |
| Wyoming | $37,410 | 50 |
| Arizona | $37,380 | 1,220 |
| Kansas | $37,140 | 200 |
| Ohio | $37,030 | 2,360 |
| Virginia | $36,960 | 900 |
| Iowa | $36,850 | 260 |
| South Carolina | $36,480 | 1,430 |
| Michigan | $36,220 | 1,700 |
| Georgia | $36,100 | 2,410 |
| Nevada | $35,850 | 470 |
| Missouri | $35,620 | 870 |
| Florida | $35,420 | 4,440 |
| Kentucky | $35,260 | 710 |
| Oklahoma | $34,430 | 370 |
| Tennessee | $31,840 | 1,200 |
| West Virginia | $31,770 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $31,540 | 170 |
| Alabama | $31,310 | 400 |
| Mississippi | $29,790 | 440 |
| Louisiana | $27,330 | 600 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,330 | 630 |
Best-paying metro areas for orderlies
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $69,870 | 480 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $65,790 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $63,780 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,380 | 370 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50,110 | 80 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $50,040 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $49,890 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $49,760 | 1,890 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,410 | 330 |
| Rochester, MN | $48,290 | 70 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $47,510 | 260 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,440 | 620 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46,560 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $45,850 | 4,970 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $45,110 | 290 |
Metro areas with the most orderlies
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,970 | $45,850 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,890 | $49,760 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,770 | $39,640 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,740 | $43,570 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,330 | $39,800 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,280 | $37,410 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,210 | $35,770 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 960 | $37,760 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 900 | $37,380 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 820 | $36,220 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 820 | $35,410 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 750 | $37,870 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 720 | $37,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 720 | $39,160 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 660 | $38,630 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Psychiatric Aide | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-1132. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a orderly make in the U.S.?
The median salary for orderlies in the U.S. is $38,290 a year, or $18.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid orderlies make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of orderlies in the U.S. earn at least $50,600 a year. The top 25% earn $44,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for orderlies in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,240 a year, and a quarter of orderlies earn $35,570 or less.
How many orderlies work in the U.S.?
About 52,440 orderlies are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.