Occupation · SOC 31-1132
Orderlies
Transport patients to areas such as operating rooms or x-ray rooms using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds. May maintain stocks of supplies or clean and transport equipment. Psychiatric orderlies are included in Psychiatric Aides.
Median wage
$37,700
$31,610–$49,570
Projected growth
+3.3%
Average growth
Annual openings
180
per year
Employed (US)
53,020
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
11 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessService OrientationActive ListeningSpeakingCoordinationCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementReading ComprehensionNegotiationPersuasionComplex Problem SolvingLearning StrategiesInstructingActive LearningTroubleshootingOperations MonitoringSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisOperation and ControlManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationMathematicsScienceManagement of Material ResourcesEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisEquipment MaintenanceRepairingProgrammingManagement of Financial ResourcesInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServicePublic Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageTransportationEducation and TrainingPsychologyTelecommunicationsAdministration and ManagementCommunications and MediaForeign LanguageComputers and ElectronicsMedicine and DentistrySociology and AnthropologyAdministrativeMechanicalPersonnel and Human ResourcesProduction and ProcessingPhysicsPhilosophy and TheologyBiologyTherapy and CounselingLaw and GovernmentChemistryMathematicsGeographyEngineering and TechnologyBuilding and ConstructionSales and MarketingFood ProductionEconomics and AccountingDesignHistory and ArcheologyFine Arts
Technology & tools
Electronic medical record EMR softwareGE Healthcare Centricity EMRMedical record charting softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Windows
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsGetting InformationCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsProcessing InformationResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleTraining and Teaching OthersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicControlling Machines and ProcessesCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsDocumenting/Recording InformationCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersWorking with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationThinking CreativelyDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesSelling or Influencing OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient lifting techniques — perform basic two-person assists under direct supervision when moving patients on or off hospital beds.Wheelchair and stretcher operation — transport patients to designated treatment areas following step-by-step instructions from senior staff.Soiled linen removal — change bed linens and cubicle curtains under direct supervision following standard infection-control procedures.Equipment cleaning basics — wipe down and sanitize wheelchairs and portable medical equipment using approved germicides as directed.Message and document delivery — carry paperwork and communications between departments accurately following assigned routing instructions.Emergency response awareness — recognize fire alarms and emergency calls and follow posted protocols under the guidance of a charge nurse.Medical supply transport — move portable equipment and supplies between rooms using designated routes as assigned by supervisors.Oral instructions — listen carefully and repeat back task assignments to confirm understanding before performing patient-care activities.Patient interaction basics — greet and reassure patients during transport using respectful, empathetic language on the hospital floor.Repair documentation — note visible damage to beds or equipment on a provided checklist and report findings to a supervisor immediately.
developing
Assisted patient transfers — independently lift and reposition patients between beds, stretchers, and examination tables using proper body mechanics in a busy clinical unit.Multi-destination transport — coordinate wheelchair and moveable-bed transport across several departments, managing timing with minimal supervisor direction.Sterilization procedures — operate sterilizing equipment and apply germicides to instruments and supplies following facility infection-control standards.Equipment maintenance tracking — clean hospital beds and portable devices routinely and log repair needs in the facility's electronic maintenance records.Emergency response participation — respond promptly to security calls and medical emergencies by following departmental emergency action plans without prompting.Linen management workflow — change soiled linens on a full patient-unit round efficiently, maintaining patient dignity and privacy throughout.Interdepartmental communication — deliver time-sensitive documents and messages accurately, adapting to competing priorities on a fast-paced floor.Supply logistics support — transport and restock medical supplies across departments, recognizing low-inventory situations and reporting them to charge staff.Active listening in patient care — identify unspoken patient discomfort or anxiety during transport and communicate observations to nursing staff promptly.Infection-control compliance — apply hand hygiene and personal protective equipment protocols consistently across all patient-contact and equipment-handling tasks.
proficient
Complex patient handling — manage solo and team lifts for bariatric or post-surgical patients, selecting appropriate transfer aids without supervisor guidance.High-volume transport coordination — manage concurrent patient transport requests across operating rooms, testing units, and wards, prioritizing by clinical urgency.Advanced sterilization oversight — select and apply correct sterilization methods for varied equipment types, verifying efficacy and documenting outcomes in medical software.Equipment lifecycle management — assess condition of wheelchairs, beds, and portable devices across an entire unit, initiating maintenance work orders and tracking resolution.Emergency scene management — take a lead support role during emergency medical or security events, coordinating with nursing and security staff until responders arrive.Linen and environmental standards enforcement — audit linen-change practices across a shift to ensure compliance with infection-prevention and patient-comfort standards.Cross-departmental logistics — optimize delivery routes for documents, supplies, and equipment to reduce transit time and minimize disruption to clinical workflows.Problem sensitivity in patient care — detect early signs of patient distress, equipment malfunction, or safety hazards and escalate appropriately to clinical supervisors.Staff communication leadership — model clear, professional oral communication with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members during complex care situations.Technology utilization — use electronic mail and office suite software to track assignments, submit maintenance reports, and review schedule updates independently.
advanced
Workforce training development — design and deliver on-the-job training programs for new orderlies covering patient handling, transport, and infection-control procedures.Departmental safety culture — lead unit-level safety initiatives by establishing consistent protocols for emergency response, lifting techniques, and equipment sanitation.Performance standards setting — define observable performance benchmarks for the orderly team and evaluate staff against those standards during formal reviews.Process improvement leadership — analyze transport and supply-delivery workflows, identify inefficiencies, and implement revised procedures that reduce patient wait times.Emergency preparedness coordination — collaborate with nursing leadership and security to update and rehearse emergency response plans affecting orderly roles facility-wide.Equipment procurement advocacy — evaluate new patient-handling and cleaning technologies, present cost-benefit findings to facility management, and guide adoption decisions.Mentorship and competency coaching — provide individualized coaching to developing orderlies on social perceptiveness and service orientation in challenging patient interactions.Cross-departmental relationship management — serve as the liaison between orderly staff and clinical department heads to resolve scheduling conflicts and service-level gaps.Data-driven accountability — use spreadsheet and medical software tools to compile and report unit metrics on transport response times, equipment downtime, and compliance rates.Organizational policy contribution — participate in facility policy committees to shape standards for patient transport safety, linen management, and orderly scope of practice.
Also known as
42 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
AttendantCart AttendantClinical Support AssociateEmergency Room OrderlyHospice Entrance AttendantHospital CorpsmanHospital OrderlyInfirmary AttendantInstitutional AideMedical OrderlyMedical TransporterNew Patient EscortOperating Room AideOperating Room AssistantOperating Room OrderlyOrderlyPatient Care Assistant (PCA)Patient Care AssociatePatient Care Technician (PCT)Patient EscortPatient ObserverPatient Safety AttendantPatient SitterPatient Transport AidePatient Transport OrderlyPatient TransporterPCT PRN (Patient Care Technician Pro Re Nata)Psychiatric OrderlyRadiology AideRadiology OrderlyRadiology TransporterSecurity OrderlySurgical OrderlyTransport AideTransport Technician (Transport Tech)Transportation AideTransporterTransporter PRN (Transporter Pro Re Nata)Ward AideWard Assistant