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Job outlook for patient care technicians in the United States
Patient care technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected patient care technician job growth rate is 9% from 2018-2028.
About 12,500 new jobs for patient care technicians are projected over the next decade.
Patient care technician salaries have increased 13% for patient care technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 164,835 patient care technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 167,520 active patient care technician job openings in the US.
The average patient care technician salary is $32,806.
Are patient care technician jobs in demand?
Patient care technician job and salary trends over time
Patient care technician jobs over time
Patient care technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 164,835 | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 156,407 | 0.05% |
| 2019 | 149,630 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 199,012 | 0.06% |
| 2017 | 195,878 | 0.06% |
Average patient care technician salary over time
Patient care technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $32,806 | $15.77 | +3.7% |
| 2025 | $31,636 | $15.21 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $30,784 | $14.80 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $29,660 | $14.26 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $29,004 | $13.94 | --0.5% |
Patient care technician jobs by state
Most common states for patient care technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 274 | 36% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,058 | 34% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 249 | 34% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,677 | 30% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 403 | 30% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 320 | 30% |
| 7 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 2,020 | 29% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 252 | 29% |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 196 | 28% |
| 10 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,627 | 27% |
| 11 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,359 | 26% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,656 | 26% |
| 13 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2,600 | 26% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 497 | 26% |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,720 | 25% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,420 | 25% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,391 | 25% |
| 18 | Vermont | 623,657 | 153 | 25% |
| 19 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,758 | 24% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 326 | 24% |
Most common cities for patient care technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Bern | 29 | 96% | $26,556 |
| 2 | Fargo | 105 | 87% | $36,502 |
| 3 | Livonia | 32 | 34% | $30,674 |
| 4 | Albuquerque | 56 | 10% | $28,144 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 55 | 9% | $24,488 |
| 6 | Indianapolis | 24 | 3% | $27,510 |
| 7 | Washington | 22 | 3% | $31,903 |
| 8 | Boston | 21 | 3% | $37,798 |
| 9 | Chicago | 33 | 1% | $33,595 |
Patient Care Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of patient care technician experts
University of North Texas
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
Merrimack College
Bellevue College
Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Misericordia Home
Carlow University
ACVP - Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
University of Charleston
Holy Names University
Eastern Michigan University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Bellevue College
Fairfield University
What general advice would you give to a Patient Care Technician?
Elyse Zavar PhD: Prior to entering the field, gaining hands-on experience through internships and volunteer opportunities can help new professionals not only stand out in the job market, but many employers will recognize and count these as years of experience thus increasing salaries. When offered a position, research comparable salaries and do not be afraid to negotiate salary, among other benefits, when discussing a job offer.
What Patient Care Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Elyse Zavar PhD: Skills working with people will always be critical for professionals in homeland security. Along with that, the ability to learn and adapt are vital in a dynamic field with evolving technology, emergent hazards, and changing policies. In the next 3-5 years, we will only see increased demand for these skills, especially as climate change continues to alter hazards and risks.
What will help Patient Care Technicians increase their earning potential?
Elyse Zavar PhD: At the core of the field of Emergency Management, and more broadly Homeland Security, is the goal to keep people and communities safe. To do this well, we have to know our communities which requires meeting stakeholders, asking questions, and listening to their experiences. I encourage all new professionals to build a professional network of individuals with diverse experiences who can serve as mentors and resources as you progress throughout your career. And then, as you do advance, reach back out to early career professionals to assist them with their professional development.
Robyn Tarpley
Director of Health and Medical SciencesPennsylvania Institute of Technology
Health and Medical Sciences Department
What soft skills should all Patient Care Technicians possess?
Robyn Tarpley: Patient Care, communication skills, phone etiquette, critical thinking.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Patient Care Technicians?
Robyn Tarpley: The ability to be 9 knowing all aspects of working in a Dr's office from meeting and greeting, collecting patient history, drawing labs, ECG) essentially being well rounded.
What skills will help Patient Care Technicians earn the most?
Robyn Tarpley: NHA cert- being assertive and professional.
Comora Sarah
Assistant Clinical ProfessorMerrimack College
Nursing Department
What skills stand out on Patient Care Technician resumes?
Comora Sarah: Experience in the industry, Dementia training, BLS certification
What skills will help Patient Care Technicians earn the most?
Comora Sarah: CNA are paid differently across the industry and in different settings. From an education and training perspective in CNA onboarding, it is more beneficial to an organization to hire candidates that have demonstrated the soft set of skills mentioned. The theory is that in the position of Certified Nursing Assistant, hard skills can be taught, and competency can be achieved after hire if you have the right candidate for your organization and team.
What skills stand out on Patient Care Technician resumes?
Marina Orobinskaia: Experience, good program attended.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Joan Cranford: California, New York, Atlanta, GA, D.C, New Jersey
What skills stand out on Patient Care Technician resumes?
Joan Cranford: -Exposure to caring for COVID patients
-Knowledge of appropriate infection control standards i.e. use of personal protective equipment
-Critical care experience
-High level nursing skills
-Initiative
-Ability to deal and work in stressful situations
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Patient Care Technician job market given the pandemic?
Joan Cranford: -Increase in hiring
-More internshipsprograms to prepare new nurses
-More across state line licensin
-Increased telehealth training to care for non-COVID patients
-Unemployed and retired nurses returning to work
-Ability to cope in stressful situations
Traci Sims
Clinical Associate ProfessorGeorgia State University
Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Patient Care Technician job market given the pandemic?
Traci Sims: - Increase in hiring
- More externship programs to prepare new nurses
- More across-state line licensing
- Increased telehealth training to care for non-COVID patients
- Unemployed and retired nurses returning to work
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Traci Sims: California; New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, D.C.; New Jersey
What skills stand out on Patient Care Technician resumes?
Traci Sims: - Exposure to caring for COVID patients
- Knowledge of appropriate infection control standards, i.e., use of personal protective equipment
- Critical care experience
- High-level nursing skills
- Initiative
- Ability to deal with and work in stressful situations
What general advice would you give to a Patient Care Technician?
Abby Murray: Smile! The gesture of a simple smile is so important when exploring new opportunities and while working. Your future employer and co-workers want to work with friendly and positive employees.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Patient Care Technician job market given the pandemic?
Abby Murray: In skilled nursing facilities and care settings, we are open for business. Unlike other businesses where remote work is a possibility, we are here 24/7 and committed to providing excellent care.
What Patient Care Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Abby Murray: Consider a gap year working in direct care positions to explore if a new career path is right for you. There is a great need for frontline workers in long-term care facilities with unlimited career growth potential, and we even provide paid training.
Janice Nash
Professor, Director of the Undergraduate Nursing ProgramCarlow University
College of Health and Wellness
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Patient Care Technician job market given the pandemic?
Janice Nash: I believe that there will be more opportunities for nurses in many areas of practice. There may be more flexible scheduling options than before the pandemic.
What skills stand out on Patient Care Technician resumes?
Janice Nash: Graduates who had internships or experience working in healthcare in addition to the required clinical courses are at an advantage. An applicant who highlights their ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and problem-solve will be noticed.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Janice Nash: A graduate should find opportunities in almost every region of the country at this point.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Peggy McElgunn: Frankly, cardiovascular care is still the most robust field in healthcare. This is mainly because it remains the number one killer (heart disease), but COVID 19 has impacted this. We know COVID 19 effects the heart, as well. And there are places for qualified graduates EVERYWHERE! Most hospitals offer fantastic onboarding incentives, too. And of course, they all have their protocols and policies - again, speaking the value and importance of flexibility!
Of course, again, membership in the Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals offers graduates a chance to network and learn directly from those working in the field. They are also the first to hear about opportunities and openings and often drive possibilities through these connections.
How do you envision technology impacting Patient Care Technicians in the next 5 years?
Peggy McElgunn: There is NO DOUBT technology is moving at a pace unimagined before COVID19. The primary way this will affect cardiovascular technology is, we will be better able to see disease processes and, therefore, more capable of managing them more effectively. Interventional cardiology and cardiac imaging are where the enormous impact will be felt. But unlike radiology, where we see much in the way of AI driving change, people will need to continue to interact with patients in interventional cardiology and cardiac imaging. Therefore, technology will serve to advance practice but not displace a workforce.
What type of skills will young Patient Care Technicians need?
Peggy McElgunn: More than anything, they will need to be flexible and adaptable. Through the pandemic, thus far, we have learned that the ability to support health care on demand is critical. So being able to work many different roles, or be identified to support various aspects of cardiovascular technology, is suggested. Towards that end, seeking credentials demonstrating your abilities is advised, too. In addition to your degree, validation through voluntary credentialing programs will go a long way towards ensuring a place and then advancement in the workforce. Careers are built on flexibility and adaptability: willingness to learn as much as possible.
One of the best ways to learn about the latest approaches and advancements is participation in the ONLY national association representing cardiovascular professionals: the Alliance of Cardiovascular Professionals (Visit ACP). Membership is a great way to build flexibility and learn about adaptations in practice.
What general advice would you give to a Patient Care Technician?
Jason Mott Ph.D.: I think the best advice for new graduates is to be flexible. Things are going to change daily. It is essential to be able to go with the flow. Also, take time for yourself. As the numbers of covid patients increase, staff members are at high risk of developing burnout. It is essential to take time for yourself to relax and get away from everything, even if for only a few minutes. That way, you can prevent becoming burned out.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Patient Care Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Jason Mott Ph.D.: In terms of technology, I think that telemedicine will continue to grow and be a crucial part of the health care system. Nurses need to be more comfortable with this technology.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Patient Care Technicians, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Jason Mott Ph.D.: Salaries for nurses are outstanding. Also, there are many opportunities to grow and get advanced degrees, increasing the amount of money that nurses can make. There are so many opportunities to move around and advance in the profession to make nursing a perfect career choice.
What experience really stands out on Patient Care Technician resumes?
Amy Bruce: -Most importantly volunteer - shows humility
-Variety - shows flexibility
-Consistency - shows loyalty
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Patient Care Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Amy Bruce: Within the next 3-5 years, Telemedicine will be at its peak. We are already using technology to diagnose and treat patients.
What Patient Care Technician skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Amy Bruce: If a gap year is taken in nursing school, the student should try to work as a Certified Nurse Assistant or Nurse Extern. This will keep them in the field and keep their experiences and current knowledge fresh until he or she can return to school.
Dr. Pamela Stanley
Interim DeanHoly Names University
School of Nursing
What type of skills will young Patient Care Technicians need?
Dr. Pamela Stanley: The skills that nursing students will need upon graduation in the next few years remains like those of the past. Understanding the role of a nurse and grasping the skills set required to start work as an advanced beginner within the nursing world.
How do you envision technology impacting Patient Care Technicians in the next 5 years?
Dr. Pamela Stanley: COVID-19 has also changed the way we deliver care, learn, and have meetings. Telehealth has been fast-forwarded by ten years, in my opinion. Nurses who had requested, for years, to complete telehealth work at home and were denied have been working remotely at home now for months.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Pamela Stanley: COVID-19 has changed the healthcare world dramatically. Students will be graduating and entering the job market during a worldwide pandemic. While some organizations have seen more older nurses retiring, creating vacancies for possible new graduates' other organizations have seen a drop in volume that has led to experienced RNs being unemployed.
Michael Williams Ph.D.
Director and Associate ProfessorEastern Michigan University
School of Nursing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Patient Care Technician job market given the pandemic?
Michael Williams Ph.D.: So much has changed with the current pandemic. With the initial surge of Covid-19 cases, nurses and nursing assistants were in high demand. Nurses were re-deployed within the healthcare system to areas overrun with Covid-19 issues. Elective surgeries and clinic visits were halted, and the healthcare agencies suffered significant financial challenges. As a result, some nursing assistants and nurses were subsequently furloughed.
However, as the healthcare systems recover from economic difficulties, or there is a second surge of Covid-19 cases, nursing assistants and nurses will again be in high demand. Nurses, working within any aspect of the healthcare system, are working harder than ever before. Staffing shortages, even short term, create additional stressors to the nurses providing care to patients.
Nursing administrators are challenged to provide sufficient staff to prevent physical and emotional distress among their nurses. Nursing faculty are working even more, challenged to prepare nursing students for this new world of healthcare. Education for nursing students has changed dramatically. Students are learning much more from simulation and virtual reality than has previously been used.
As a result, new nurse graduates will need more and additional support when they transition from nursing students to full-fledged registered nurses! All nurses will need more generous support from society with the stress of the pandemic. Nurses are, regrettably, at greater risk for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicide ideations due to the epidemic's prolonged strain. The physical and emotional health of nurses and all healthcare providers needs to be a societal priority. Despite all of these challenges, nurses will be there!
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Patient Care Technicians in the next 5 years?
Michael Williams Ph.D.: Nurses will continue to be in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% growth from 2019-2029 for all registered nurses, but a 45% growth is projected for advanced practice nurses. There are projected 175,900 openings for RNs each year through 2029 due to nurse retirements and workforce exits. Many factors contribute to the demand-supply issue; specifically, 1) the nursing workforce is known to be older (47.5% are over the age of 50) than other occupations, and 2) the ongoing shortage of qualified faculty to prepare nursing students.
As a result of the pandemic, we see older nurses choose to retire earlier than planned, and some nurses choose to stay home to care for their children or more aging parents. So the demand will continue, the supply will continue to be insufficient, but there will be nurses. I am hopeful that Michigan, a state that has restricted practice for nurse practitioners, will finally grant full practice authority for nurse practitioners so they can perform at the highest level of their education and training.
I am thrilled to share that our applicant pool for our BSN program at Eastern Michigan University was at an all-time high this summer for the limited spaces we have. When asking the incoming students if they had any hesitancies about becoming a nurse during the pandemic, the response was overwhelming "we're more committed than ever before." This is excellent news for everyone.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Patient Care Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Michael Williams Ph.D.: Many technologies are growing in importance in healthcare. Healthcare trackers, wearables, and sensors will continue to grow and allow patients to self-monitor and report their health findings to providers in real-time. Wearable diabetes monitors that provide real-time blood sugar reports and control have revolutionized a person's life with diabetes. FitBit and other technologies can monitor heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation will also expand in use.
The electronic health record (EHR) integration continues to build in decision aids and artificial intelligence for making better decisions. The EHR has made accessing patient information more available to other practitioners and patients themselves. Another technology that will continue to expand in use is a point of care testing (POC). POC allows for greater flexibility to meet the patient wherever they are, and will see continued expansion. And perhaps, the technology that has indeed expanded, out of necessity during the pandemic, is telehealth.
While telehealth has been available for many years, particularly in rural areas, it wasn't nearly as common in high population areas--patients were expected to go to the provider. Telehealth can eliminate many unnecessary "non-emergency" visits to emergency rooms and can be available, quite easily, in off-hours.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Shelly Wells Ph.D.: Nurses continue to be in high demand throughout the nation. While new graduate nurses may not be able to find their dream "no weekends, day shift position in their favorite specialty" right out of school, there are opportunities abound for the new nurse to build their skills to prepare for that dream position. The demand for nurses in community-based agencies is increasing. Nurses who have completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree find expanded leadership opportunities, public health, and non-traditional nursing positions. One does not have to live in or near a large city to find a chance to work as a registered nurse as there are countless positions in rural America waiting for the right graduate nurses.
What type of skills will young Patient Care Technicians need?
Shelly Wells Ph.D.: As they enter the workforce, graduate nurses need a robust set of interpersonal skills, in addition to their general nursing knowledge. New nurses must be good listeners, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and problem-solvers to advocate for their patients, profession, and themselves. They must demonstrate empathy, compassion, dependability, flexibility, and a good sense of humor. The new graduate must be confident in their general nursing knowledge gained while in school and commit to learning something new every day while engaged in their nursing career.
How do you envision technology impacting Patient Care Technicians in the next 5 years?
Shelly Wells Ph.D.: As technology continues to evolve and change healthcare, there will always be a role for nurses. Technology will continue to provide ways to diagnose and treat many more conditions with less invasiveness and lost time. Technology will be used to improve communication between the patient and healthcare providers as telehealth grows. New robotic surgery techniques will allow patients to recover quicker than more invasive procedures. Electronic platforms for storing health care information will improve from the current time-intensive frameworks. As the improvements continue to emerge, there will be no replacement for the problem-solving and patient-teaching skills that the registered nurse brings to the health care arena.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Katrina Malkin: Rather than a geographic location, I think graduates should think outside of previous conventions of where a new grad finds a point of entry into the profession. How about telehealth? How about tech industry advisors? How about virtual health education? That is having been said; our students are graduating and finding jobs where they always have - major metropolitan areas, hospital systems like Swedish, Virginia Mason, the Veterans Health Administration, Overlake Hospital. Hospital systems now run well-developed nursing residency programs. Many of these are provided to the hospital through subcontractors who specialize in residency programs. They range from 3-6 months, include significant off-unit classes and training, and don't always lead to a job on the unit, where the graduate goes initially. Understanding what is out there in terms of nursing residencies, getting a job as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant), or other support roles is one of the very best ways to get a job in the hospital where you want to work as an RN after graduation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Patient Care Technicians?
Katrina Malkin: There is no question that this pandemic is a game-changer, a sea change, if you will. Nothing will ever be that same, and that very much includes nursing school, both those who choose to enter it and those who make it through and enter the profession of nursing in a COVID and post-COVID world. In terms of psychosocial-emotional impacts, the virus has made clear to our students, in the most real and proximal way, that not everything has an easy order fix. It is not shot or pill or formula to follow-the hubris of our human position, especially we, as North Americans, have been knocked sideways.
Our students see, in stark relief, that there is no higher power, no Wizard of Oz man behind the curtain, who will light the way and hand them the answers. They have risen to the challenge presented here is a way that floods me with hope. We did not lose one single student when COVID came down last spring. I thought that Coronaphobia would have scared some of our students away. But their resolve to join the fight was impressive. Mostly they were frustrated at not getting to go into the hospitals and clinics that normally host student nurses. They want to serve. On a more tangible, technical, and logistics level - boots on the ground - we are all learning how to teach and learn remotely. Everyone is groaning with the effort of enhancing our literacy around the transition to online instruction.
We've figured out how to deliver instruction, and this will surely translate to cohorts of tech-savvy graduates who can work within their institutions and the profession at large to deliver healthcare this way as well. Telehealth is the next frontier. I believe that our graduates will be in the vanguard of what is possible to use the internet to deliver more consistent and accessible healthcare to more people, more often, proactively, and wide ranging. Treating chronic diseases such as our epidemic of Diabetes by going, virtually, into people's homes, kitchens lives, and working with them to build sustainable sea changes of their own gives me hope for what is possible.
How do you envision technology impacting Patient Care Technicians in the next 5 years?
Katrina Malkin: Enhanced A/V technology, both in the delivery of telehealth - allowing RNs to go virtually into people's homes and see how they live, will give us an edge for delivering more sustainable and holistic care - and get buy-in from our clients to make lifestyle changes in the context of their lives, not our sterile clinic settings.
Simulation education - We have ramped up an already burgeoning trend to use simulation to move our nursing students into the "hot seat" to give them opportunities to exercise their clinical reasoning skills in myriad dynamic simulated client case scenarios. Learning how to use their brains and bodies to deliver care in simulation - where they can risk trying what they think is the right move, without risk to a real client. We have sim manikins that speak, have pulses, breathe, have a heartbeat, their pupils dilate, we can make them pee and bleed, start IVs on them, and manipulate the whole client/RN experience from behind a one-way mirror. It's powerful.
During COVID, we are experimenting with live-action avatars. Since students can't come to campus, we, the faculty, are serving as their avatar-they remote in, via Zoom, and direct us. We are also exploring the use of virtual reality to give dynamic, low-risk experiential education to nursing students; how all of this translates to bridging the divide between real human client interactions and the virtual world remains to be seen. Will tech translate? Will we be able to sustain meaningful engagement with real human bodies? Technology has the potential to bring us closer or add layers of distance and divide.
What type of skills will young Patient Care Technicians need?
Dr. Linda Roney: New graduates need to have excellent leadership and communication skills, especially during times of uncertainty. For example, many of our 2019 graduates were deployed to float to areas of need throughout the pandemic. Because they had full, personal protective equipment on, their new work area could not read facial expressions or body language to try to guess the nurse's level of comfort with their new setting. They had to quickly learn to speak up about what their learning needs were, and how to best advocate for their patients.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Patient Care Technicians to find work opportunities?
Dr. Linda Roney: There is a significant need for nurses across the country, in most settings.
How do you envision technology impacting Patient Care Technicians in the next 5 years?
Dr. Linda Roney: Technology is a significant part of healthcare. For example, we have seen a significant expansion of telemedicine during the pandemic, and there will be opportunities to expand its use. Innovation is central to advancing health, and while this sometimes involves the use of technology, nurses are experts at remembering what really matters-holistic care of our patients.