What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Orderlies in the U.S. earn more than $38,290 a year — the middle 80% land between $32,240 and $50,600. About 52,440 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Orderlies”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$38,290typical pay / year
52,440people in this work
$50,600+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Move5
Assist in the physical restraint of combative patients
+Assist two nurses in physically restraining a combative patient at the foot of Ward B's hall, position body…
Assist in the physical restraint of combative patients
+Assist two nurses in physically restraining a combative patient at the foot of Ward B's hall, position body and limbs to prevent injury, call for code sitter if behavior escalates, and notify Charge Nurse within five minutes.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRO*NETWikipedia
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Support in operating rooms
+Support the surgical team in OR 1 by positioning the patient, handing sterile supplies to scrub tech as…
Support in operating rooms
+Support the surgical team in OR 1 by positioning the patient, handing sterile supplies to scrub tech as directed, ensuring cautery ground placement is clear, and report any equipment or room concerns to circulating nurse Carla immediately.
The tools that do the workMedical record chartingjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Keep patient areas clean and tidy
+Walk the 4th floor ward at 11:00 and tidy patient areas: remove empty trays, restock bedside tissues,…
Keep patient areas clean and tidy
+Walk the 4th floor ward at 11:00 and tidy patient areas: remove empty trays, restock bedside tissues, straighten chairs and clear clutter around beds, report and log any biohazard spills to environmental services and the charge nurse.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptionsWikipedia
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Help maintain a sterile environment during procedures
+During the 13:00 procedure in Minor Ops, maintain the sterile field perimeter, replace torn gloves or drapes…
Help maintain a sterile environment during procedures
+During the 13:00 procedure in Minor Ops, maintain the sterile field perimeter, replace torn gloves or drapes immediately, hand unopened sterile packs to scrub tech only, and notify lead RN if any contamination occurs.
The tools that do the workGE Healthcare Centricity EMRjob descriptionsO*NET
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Assist in emergency department tasks
+Respond to triage surge at 18:30 by bringing stretchers and oxygen carts to room 7, assist with moving…
Assist in emergency department tasks
+Respond to triage surge at 18:30 by bringing stretchers and oxygen carts to room 7, assist with moving unstable patients to monitored bays under direction of charge nurse Maria, and log equipment movement and patient locations in the department board.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRO*NETWikipedia
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The daily work15
Dispose of medical waste properly
+Bag and label sharps and regulated waste from Ward 4B, follow the red-bag route to the locked disposal room,…
Dispose of medical waste properly
+Bag and label sharps and regulated waste from Ward 4B, follow the red-bag route to the locked disposal room, check container fill level, log the pickup on the unit board, and hand the disposal room key to Environmental Services before lunch.
The tools that do the workMedical record chartingjob descriptionsO*NET
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Serve or collect food trays.
+Collect lunch trays from rooms 201–216 after the noon service, confirm dietary stickers match the chart,…
Serve or collect food trays.
+Collect lunch trays from rooms 201–216 after the noon service, confirm dietary stickers match the chart, clear any food spills, stack trays on the clean cart, and return the empty cart to Nutrition Services by 1:00 PM.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Officejob descriptionsO*NET
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Transport patients within the healthcare facility
+Wheel Mr. Hernandez from bed 312 to Radiology at 10:30, confirm his ID band and mobility restrictions, secure…
Transport patients within the healthcare facility
+Wheel Mr. Hernandez from bed 312 to Radiology at 10:30, confirm his ID band and mobility restrictions, secure side rails and blankets, use the corridor escort lane, hand him to the radiology tech and note departure and return times on the transport log.
The tools that do the workMedical record chartingjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Collect soiled linen or trash.
+Gather soiled linens from rooms 101–110 at 3:00 PM, bag wet or contaminated items separately, tie and label…
Collect soiled linen or trash.
+Gather soiled linens from rooms 101–110 at 3:00 PM, bag wet or contaminated items separately, tie and label bags by room number, place on the dirty-linen trolley, and deliver to Housekeeping for laundering before shift end.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Carry messages or documents between departments.
+Pick up the signed consent form from Emergency triage, deliver it to Surgical Admissions immediately, avoid…
Carry messages or documents between departments.
+Pick up the signed consent form from Emergency triage, deliver it to Surgical Admissions immediately, avoid public corridors during the code drill, get a receipt from the admissions clerk, and note delivery time on the department log.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
+Collect blood samples from phlebotomy at 8:45, verify specimen labels against the requisition, transport them…
Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
+Collect blood samples from phlebotomy at 8:45, verify specimen labels against the requisition, transport them in the sealed carrier to the lab within 30 minutes, get the lab tech to initial receipt, and update the chain-of-custody log.
The tools that do the workGE Healthcare Centricity EMRO*NET
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Allow the crossing of pedestrians in a safe and orderly manner
+Stop the vehicle lane at the crosswalk, check both directions for oncoming cars and bicycles, signal…
Allow the crossing of pedestrians in a safe and orderly manner
+Stop the vehicle lane at the crosswalk, check both directions for oncoming cars and bicycles, signal pedestrians across at a steady pace, keep them between you and the curb, and clear the crossing before releasing traffic when the far curb is occupied.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WindowsESCO
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Observe traffic
+Stand at the intersection, scan the road and sidewalks continuously for approaching vehicles, record unusual…
Observe traffic
+Stand at the intersection, scan the road and sidewalks continuously for approaching vehicles, record unusual behaviour or congestion, report any hazards or rule violations to security by radio, and reposition yourself to maintain a clear view of all lanes.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Hold a stop sign towards the vehicles
+Plant yourself facing the vehicle lane with the stop paddle raised, watch for drivers approaching the…
Hold a stop sign towards the vehicles
+Plant yourself facing the vehicle lane with the stop paddle raised, watch for drivers approaching the crosswalk, lock the paddle steady to stop traffic, make eye contact with drivers, keep the paddle visible until every pedestrian reaches the far curb, then lower it and allow traffic to proceed.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeESCO
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Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
+Replenish the dressing stockroom with ten surgical dressing packs and twenty treatment trays from central…
Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
+Replenish the dressing stockroom with ten surgical dressing packs and twenty treatment trays from central supply, check expiry dates and lot numbers, restock shelves by 10:00 so ward A and ward B never run below par.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRO*NET
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Transport bodies to the morgue.
+Move the deceased in bed 4 from ward C to the hospital mortuary trolley, confirm identity band details and…
Transport bodies to the morgue.
+Move the deceased in bed 4 from ward C to the hospital mortuary trolley, confirm identity band details and time of death with the nurse, secure the body for transfer and notify the mortuary attendant before 08:30.
The tools that do the workMedical record chartingO*NET
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Help physicians with the application of casts
+Prepare the fracture room for Dr Patel by laying out the plaster materials, padding and stockinet, position…
Help physicians with the application of casts
+Prepare the fracture room for Dr Patel by laying out the plaster materials, padding and stockinet, position the patient on the table and hand instruments during the cast application, keeping the limb aligned and comfortable.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeWikipedia
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Shave patients as part of personal care
+Give Mr Johnson a safety shave before his procedure, explain each step, use an electric shaver with warm…
Shave patients as part of personal care
+Give Mr Johnson a safety shave before his procedure, explain each step, use an electric shaver with warm towels, verify anticoagulant status on the chart, and report any skin breaks to the nurse immediately.
The tools that do the workMedical record chartingWikipedia
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Help in psychiatric wards
+Sit in on the psychiatric ward handover with the nursing team, observe patient behaviour during activity…
Help in psychiatric wards
+Sit in on the psychiatric ward handover with the nursing team, observe patient behaviour during activity sessions, report any escalating risks, and escort a patient to the quiet room if requested by the nurse in charge.
The tools that do the workMedical record chartingWikipedia
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Support orthopaedics departments
+Help the orthopaedics team by fetching traction equipment, positioning patients for x-ray, bringing…
Support orthopaedics departments
+Help the orthopaedics team by fetching traction equipment, positioning patients for x-ray, bringing replacement slings and assisting transfers while maintaining limb support and following the physiotherapist's instructions.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRWikipedia
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
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Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses