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.