Post Job

What is an aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

An aide is a person who provides assistance and support to individuals in various settings, such as healthcare or education. They work under the supervision of licensed professionals, such as nurses or teachers, and are responsible for carrying out tasks such as personal care, medication administration, and help with daily activities. Aides provide emotional support and companionship to their clients. They must have excellent communication skills and be able to work well under pressure.

ScoreAideUS Average
Salary
2.2

Avg. Salary $27,793

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.0

Growth Rate 36%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.21%

Asian 8.42%

Black or African American 10.76%

Hispanic or Latino 19.32%

Unknown 4.41%

White 55.88%

Gender

female 74.08%

male 25.92%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress Level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
9.6

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Aide?

Pros

  • Opportunity to help others

  • Develop meaningful relationships with clients

  • Gain experience in the healthcare field

  • Opportunities for advancement

  • Chance to work in different settings (hospitals, nursing homes, private homes)

Cons

  • Long hours and irregular schedules

  • Limited opportunities for career growth in some organizations

  • Often low pay compared to other healthcare positions

  • Mentally challenging dealing with clients with various medical conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's etc.

  • Challening to maintain professional boundaries with clients.

Aide career paths

Key steps to become an aide

  1. Explore aide education requirements

    Most common aide degrees

    Bachelor's

    41.0 %

    High School Diploma

    22.9 %

    Associate

    19.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific aide skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients26.10%
    Patient Care14.71%
    CPR8.14%
    Compassion7.18%
    Home Health6.67%
  3. Gain additional aide certifications

    Aide certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific aide certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for aides include Medical Assistant and Advanced First Aid & CPR.

    More About Certifications
  4. Research aide duties and responsibilities

    • Help ESL students achieve their academic goals while they learn a new language and adapt to a new community and culture.
    • Assist with the intervention under the supervision of an experience professional with expertise in autism therapy
    • Assist residents with recreational activities and other projects doing whatever possible to promote comfort, security and rehabilitation.
    • Facilitate the treatment and rehabilitation of the residential clients by assisting clients in overcoming anxieties, explaining available service.
  5. Prepare your aide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your aide resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Aide Resume templates

    Build a professional Aide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Aide resume.
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
    Aide Resume
  6. Apply for aide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an aide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Aide Job

Zippi

Are you an Aide?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average aide salary

The average Aide salary in the United States is $27,793 per year or $13 per hour. Aide salaries range between $21,000 and $35,000 per year.

Average Aide Salary
$27,793 Yearly
$13.36 hourly

What Am I Worth?

salary-calculator

How do aides rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Aide reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

I love working as a hospice aide, it was a midlife career change given to me my God. I feel like I am doing for others that I would want for me or any of my loved ones.. past, present and future.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

The selflessness


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Cons

Nothing love it all.


Working as an Aide? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall Rating*
Career Growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Search for aide jobs

Aide jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse personal care and attendants jobs