What Do Orderly Do?
Career Description 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.
List of Orderly Job Duties
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients, alone or with assistance, to prevent bedsores.
- Take and record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
- Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
- Change soiled linens, such as bed linens, drapes, or cubicle curtains.
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Things an Orderly Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Orderlies say are the most useful in their careers:
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Orderly
- Surgical Orderly
- Ward Attendant
- Clinical Support Associate
- Radiology Transporter
- Hospital Orderly
Job Outlook for Orderlies
There were about 54,000 jobs for Orderly in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,400 new jobs for Orderly by 2026. There will be an estimated 6,700 positions for Orderly per year.

The states with the most job growth for Orderly are Colorado, Idaho, and Montana. Watch out if you plan on working in Illinois, Connecticut, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Orderly
The typical yearly salary for Orderlies is somewhere between $21,010 and $41,460.

Orderlies who work in Hawaii, Minnesota, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Orderlies in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $23,580 |
Alaska | $41,470 |
Arizona | $26,410 |
Arkansas | $25,770 |
California | $39,410 |
Colorado | $30,380 |
Connecticut | $34,450 |
Delaware | $32,820 |
District of Columbia | $32,190 |
Florida | $26,540 |
Georgia | $27,830 |
Hawaii | $39,310 |
Idaho | $29,190 |
Illinois | $33,140 |
Indiana | $28,790 |
Iowa | $30,100 |
Kansas | $27,130 |
Kentucky | $23,960 |
Louisiana | $23,650 |
Maine | $28,300 |
Maryland | $28,080 |
Massachusetts | $36,010 |
Michigan | $29,130 |
Minnesota | $37,460 |
Mississippi | $22,930 |
Missouri | $23,760 |
Montana | $28,720 |
Nevada | $32,480 |
New Hampshire | $32,060 |
New Jersey | $31,000 |
New Mexico | $28,720 |
New York | $35,130 |
North Carolina | $26,680 |
North Dakota | $32,910 |
Ohio | $27,460 |
Oklahoma | $24,500 |
Oregon | $27,320 |
Pennsylvania | $28,760 |
Rhode Island | $32,600 |
South Carolina | $24,110 |
Tennessee | $24,330 |
Texas | $24,620 |
Vermont | $27,250 |
Virginia | $28,490 |
Washington | $32,510 |
West Virginia | $25,240 |
Wisconsin | $29,480 |
Wyoming | $35,910 |
What Tools do Orderlies Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Orderlies:
- Microsoft Windows
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Medical record charting software
How do I Become an Orderly?
Education needed to be an Orderly:

What work experience do I need to become an Orderly?

Where Orderlies Work

Below are examples of industries where Orderlies work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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