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What is a nursing home aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Penny Ridenour
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a nursing home aide. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.69 an hour? That's $49,268 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 36% and produce 1,185,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a nursing home aide?

Penny Ridenour

Dean of School of Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

In order to maximize your earnings, flexibility is key to fit the niche the employer needs. Intentionally accept assignments that will allow growth in a specialization. If possible, ask to shadow other professionals proficient in the specialization you desire.
ScoreNursing Home AideUS Average
Salary
3.8

Avg. Salary $49,268

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.7

Growth rate 36%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.11%

Asian 10.47%

Black or African American 23.99%

Hispanic or Latino 23.41%

Unknown 5.40%

White 35.62%

Gender

female 86.81%

male 13.19%

Age - 51
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 - 51
Stress level
7.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
9.6

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Nursing home aide career paths

Key steps to become a nursing home aide

  1. Explore nursing home aide education requirements

    Most common nursing home aide degrees

    High School Diploma

    27.2 %

    Associate

    25.9 %

    Bachelor's

    25.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific nursing home aide skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients26.70%
    Home Health21.25%
    Vital Signs9.00%
    Physical Therapy8.63%
    Nursing Home7.97%
  3. Complete relevant nursing home aide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nursing home aides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a nursing home aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nursing home aide resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed nursing home aide usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed nursing home aide in most of states. 25 states require nursing home aides to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    AlaskaDegree requiredThird-party exam requiredNurse Aide
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredBoth state and third-party exams requiredNursing Assistant (Certified)
    CaliforniaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredCertified Nurse Assistant
    ColoradoSpecific course requiredState exam requiredNurse Aide
    ConnecticutSpecific course requiredState exam requiredNurses Aide
  5. Research nursing home aide duties and responsibilities

    • Perform Adl's medication administration.
    • Assist nurse with the residents with their ADL.
    • Treat each patient with genuine, compassion, kindness and respect.
    • Assist with colostomy and catheter care under the supervision of the RN.
  6. Prepare your nursing home aide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nursing home 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 a nursing home 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 nursing home aide resume templates

    Build a professional nursing home 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 nursing home aide resume.
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
    Nursing Home Aide Resume
  7. Apply for nursing home aide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a nursing home 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 nursing home aide job

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Average nursing home aide salary

The average nursing home aide salary in the United States is $49,268 per year or $24 per hour. Nursing home aide salaries range between $23,000 and $104,000 per year.

Average nursing home aide salary
$49,268 Yearly
$23.69 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do nursing home aides rate their job?

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Nursing home aide reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2023
Cons

Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Cons

All the changes with certification and how you can be on the floor of a facility and know not even common sense. How they have hospitality aides, hca, and people going to start a free class. Back in the day we were called glorified babysitters I never agreed until we have just a warm body with no license(s) whom can't do anything even as small as getting ice waters. I've worked hard tobe where i am and these people take a computer class and pass we would call that our continuing education hrs but what do i know after 23 yrs. I once REALLY loved my job and still do but it's almost like being in grade school with people who have phone's lol It bothers me that many new or non licensed bodies have the audacity to come in these facilities and act like the residents are on their time! We are in their home to help provide ADL's amongst other things like them still trying to be & keep their independence. The ridiculous amount they have to spend to have the care they get from some people makes me wanna die young!! Our system sucks unless its the government making the dollar. I just wish they'd spend an 8 hr shift in these facilities before signing off on some rules & regs. Im not political by any means but those who take the dollar should get to live and experience a day of what our elderly lived ones are forced to experience daily , monthly, yearly! In fact the state hasn't even done the 18 month annual expectation in over 2 yrs at the place im contracted at 👍way to keep up on stuff and by stuff I mean our elderly living human beans. People who deserve to be served on gold plates or at least gave better food then what they serve daycares and if not that at least for it to be at high minimum warm food !! In 23 yrs of being a CNA I can only try to write a book to get out all the things I've seen ,heard. & witnessed in the years.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2021
Cons

For profits places, that understaffed under schedule, Nursing staff, do not provide proper equipment nor keep it in repair. Do not allow staff breaks lock the bathrooms, do not even give lunch breaks, Call you on your C phone when you are changing a diaper from in side the ward to tell you to go help another ward. No between shift report. not providing the names of R.N. or L.V.N. to changes in Clients conditions. I have worked as a L.N.A. I love my choice for a career But due to the conditions of Phoenix Arizona facilities I will not be looking for a job in the field. You have to go to an add agency to find a job, Some jobs have wonderful advertisement and then after two week you learn what they are really like .Not Good All they care about is profit. no dignity no respect for pat6ients,clints or staff. I pray to god there are some good places in or around Phoenix Arizona I have not found one yet and the agency are not very honest. God Bless the Clients in their care keep them safe and healthy


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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.

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