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What is a health aide and how to become one
A Health Aide cares for disabled, older, or sick people. He/She assists with their daily activities and helps clients maintain proper clothing. He/She helps with personal services like bathing and accompanies clients to their doctor's visits. As a health aide, you will ensure clients take their medications as prescribed. You will also assist those unable to carry out their daily homemaking duties. Also, you will follow a specified care plan for the client and report on completed tasks.
Although there is no formal education requirement for this position, most health aides possess a High school diploma. They receive on-the-job training from experienced aides, licensed practical nurses, or registered nurses. Interested persons must possess empathy, physical strength, interpersonal skills, and time management skills. These personnel work in care facilities and developmental disability facilities and often works full-time, including weekends and holidays. They earn an average hourly wage of $12, which falls between $11 and $14.
What general advice would you give to a Health Aide?
Penny Ridenour
Dean of School of Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
Avg. Salary $30,434
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 36%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.11%
Asian 10.47%
Black or African American 23.99%
Hispanic or Latino 23.41%
Unknown 5.40%
White 35.62%
Genderfemale 83.41%
male 16.59%
Age - 51American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 51Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Health Aide career paths
Key steps to become a health aide
Explore health aide education requirements
Start to develop specific health aide skills
Skills 
Percentages Patients 31.93% Home Health 19.56% Community Health 7.04% Vital Signs 5.47% Patient Care 5.09% Complete relevant health aide training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New health aides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a health aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real health aide resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed health aide usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed health aide in most of states. 25 states require health aides to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License Url Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse Aide Arkansas Specific course required Both state and third-party exams required Nursing Assistant (Certified) California Specific course required State exam required Certified Nurse Assistant Colorado Specific course required State exam required Nurse Aide Connecticut Specific course required State exam required Nurses Aide Gain additional health aide certifications
More About CertificationsHealth aide certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific health aide certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for health aides include Medical Assistant and Advanced First Aid & CPR.
Research health aide duties and responsibilities
- Manage ventilator settings, suction tracheostomy, tube-feeding assistance.
- Perform care plan documentation to effectively implement personal care, dietary needs, and ADL requirements.
- Share health information with school staff and arrange training sessions for CPR certification and health care implementation.
- Care consists of medication administration, helping with ADL'S if necessary with the students with significant needs.
Prepare your health aide resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your health aide resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a health aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Health Aide Resume templates
Build a professional Health Aide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Health Aide resume.
Apply for health aide jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a health aide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Health Aide Job
Are you a Health Aide?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average health aide salary
The average Health Aide salary in the United States is $30,434 per year or $15 per hour. Health aide salaries range between $23,000 and $39,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do health aides rate their job?
Health Aide reviews
Very fulfilling and rewarding
Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!
The ability to show care, love & compassion to those whom have none or family can't give time to show any. It's like being the missing piece to a puzzle we all if lucky enough get to live long enough to experience. It's making someones day by just remembering to watch their hands and face before/ after meals. To give proper attention to teeth, to let dressing am or pm still br a choice they make. I know im a good human with an oversized caring heart and although sometimes its exhausting working extra hrs or having to do all or extra work on short staffed days it's worth it. And slow and steady wins the day. They are people whom have gone through & experienced more then we will ever get too.
Working behind a caregiver that’s not well trained
Updated January 8, 2025
