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Student Nurse Technician Salary and Job Overview

Student nurse techs assist nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professions with basic tasks. These individuals may be called by different names, depending on the healthcare facilities. For example, some healthcare organizations may call them  nursing assistants, orderlies, nurse’s aide, patient care assistants, nurse extern/intern, or other similar names.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for nursing assistants (as of 2014) was $26,350. The average hourly wage was $12.62. Because this is an entry-level position, you’re generally not going to earn as much as other healthcare workers who have certification or a more extensive education.  Your pay will generally be $1-3 more than minimum wage. However, you can advance in pay as you get closer to graduating nursing school. Once you graduate and pass the NCLEX, you’ll be bumped up to LPN or RN pay.

Student Nurse Tech Job Duties

What do student nurse techs do on the job? Below is a list of common job duties:

  • Assist nurses by checking vital signs
  • Help patients to the bathroom
  • Change linens
  • Help with patient hygiene and grooming
  • Help arrange and deliver meals
  • Stock supplies
  • Transport patients
  • Assist with documentation
  • Perform Foley changes or dressing changes (only in some states, once students receive permission based on skills check-offs)

Some healthcare organizations break up student nurse techs into different categories, based on your academic progression. For example, if you’re not yet in nursing school, you may be hired as a Level  1 nurse tech. Then you may become a Nurse tech 2 after your first year, and then you may progress to a Nurse Tech 3 until you pass NCLEX.

Each level may include an increase in pay and job responsibilities, but again, this varies among healthcare facilities. Some hospitals, for example, will allow you to do more tasks as you complete skills check-offs in nursing schools or complete certain courses.

Requirements to Become a Student Nurse Tech

You’ll generally have to be at least 18 years old and have your high school diploma. Some hospitals and other healthcare facilities will require student nurse techs to be enrolled in an accredited program and maintain a certain GPA level. However, healthcare facilities with more generic titles (nursing assistants or nurse’s aide) may only require a high school diploma.

Certification may be required if you become a nursing assistant, but not all healthcare facilities require you to become a CNA. You can become a certified nursing assistant in about 4-12 weeks.

Student Nurse Tech Pros and Cons

Working as a student nurse technician can provide students with a great foundation for nursing. However, like all jobs, this job does have its pros and cons.

Here is what most student nurse techs like about their job:

  • Nursing students love how the job helps them prepare for nursing. They get to work alongside seasoned nurses. This reduces a lot of their anxieties. It also helps them to apply classroom material in a realistic way.
  • They love working with patients.
  • Student nurse techs enjoy a flexible work schedule.
  • They love how it provides opportunities for advancement and helps them secure a job after nursing school. Some hospitals essentially guarantee their nurse techs a job once they graduate.

Here is what most student nurse techs dislike about their job:

  • Student nurse techs aren’t paid a lot of money.
  • Some nurses can be rude.
  • Some student nurse techs dislike tasks such as cleaning patients, etc.

Student Nurse Tech Salary

How much money does a student nurse tech make? As indicated above, the average salary for nursing assistants (as of 2014) was $26,350. The average hourly wage was $12.62. The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups all nursing assistants together, which would include student nurse techs.

One thing you should keep in mind is that some hospitals may consider this an unpaid internship. Others may have paid placements, but they won’t offer benefits. Others will offer full pay and benefits. It’s best to look at listings in your area to determine those details.

Below are additional salary details for each state.

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for nursing assistants:

Employment Employment
RSE
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage
Wage RSE
1,427,740 0.5 % $12.62 $26,250 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for student nurse techs:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.03 $10.26 $12.07 $14.43 $17.39
Annual Wage $18,790 $21,340 $25,100 $30,020 $36,170

Industries with the highest levels of employment for nurse’s aides:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 616,550 37.21 $12.09 $25,160
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 346,900 6.61 $13.67 $28,430
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 156,940 18.70 $11.78 $24,500
Home Health Care Services 72,400 5.77 $11.60 $24,130
Employment Services 37,590 1.09 $13.28 $27,630

Top paying industries for nursing orderlies or student nurse techs:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 12,940 0.65 $17.49 $36,380
Lessors of Real Estate n/a n/a $15.23 $31,670
Insurance Carriers 180 0.02 $15.13 $31,470
Scientific Research and Development Services 590 0.09 $15.03 $31,250
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 2,970 0.10 $14.76 $30,710

Top paying states for this occupation:

State Employment Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Alaska 1,750 5.39 0.51 $17.87 $37,180
Nevada 5,070 4.27 0.40 $15.86 $33,000
New York 101,030 11.47 1.09 $15.61 $32,470
Connecticut 21,670 13.16 1.25 $15.36 $31,940
District of Columbia 3,420 5.07 0.48 $14.87 $30,940

Lowest paying states for student nurse technicians:

State Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Puerto Rico $9.64 $20,060
Louisiana $9.90 $20,600
Mississippi $10.02 $20,840
Arkansas $10.29 $21,400
Alabama $10.58 $22,000
Oklahoma $10.64 $22,140
Georgia $10.72 $22,290
North Carolina $10.89 $22,650

Salary for student nurse techs in all 50 states:

State Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Alabama $10.58 $22,000
Alaska $17.87 $37,180
Arizona $13.53 $28,150
Arkansas $10.29 $21,400
California $14.43 $30,020
Colorado $13.76 $28,610
Connecticut $15.36 $31,940
Delaware $13.44 $27,950
District of Columbia $14.87 $30,940
Florida $11.59 $24,110
Georgia $10.72 $22,290
Guam $11.74 $24,410
Hawaii $14.66 $30,480
Idaho $10.98 $22,830
Illinois $12.14 $25,260
Indiana $11.40 $23,710
Iowa $12.15 $25,270
Kansas $11.20 $23,300
Kentucky $11.36 $23,620
Louisiana $9.90 $20,600
Maine $11.89 $24,720
Maryland $13.82 $28,740
Massachusetts $14.50 $30,160
Michigan $13.27 $27,610
Minnesota $13.36 $27,800
Mississippi $10.02 $20,840
Missouri $11.11 $23,100
Montana $11.97 $24,900
Nebraska $11.90 $24,750
Nevada $15.86 $33,000
New Hampshire $14.03 $29,170
New Jersey $13.56 $28,190
New Mexico $12.88 $26,790
New York $15.61 $32,470
North Carolina $10.89 $22,650
North Dakota $13.88 $28,860
Ohio $11.89 $24,730
Oklahoma $10.64 $22,140
Oregon $13.80 $28,710
Pennsylvania $13.52 $28,110
Puerto Rico $9.64 $20,060
Rhode Island $13.65 $28,390
South Carolina $11.13 $23,140
South Dakota $11.12 $23,130
Tennessee $10.98 $22,830
Texas $11.52 $23,960
Utah $11.42 $23,760
Vermont $12.84 $26,700
Virgin Islands $11.16 $23,220
Virginia $11.62 $24,160
Washington $14.06 $29,250
West Virginia $11.10 $23,080
Wisconsin $12.91 $26,850
Wyoming $13.41 $27,900

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Nursing Assistants, on the Internet at bls.gov.

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