Nursing Support salaries: $19.50/hr median.
Nursing support staff (CNAs, patient-care technicians) provide essential bedside care under registered nurse supervision.
Showing 15 titles (14 with pay data) across 7 tracks and 51 states. Latest data as of April 30, 2026.
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| Role | Category · Track | Median /hr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health Aide | Nursing Support · CNA/Aide | $18.00 | $16.50–$20.50 | 11,899 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | Nursing Support · Direct Care | $20.50 | $18.50–$22.50 | 8,166 |
| Direct Support Professional (DSP) | Nursing Support · Home Care | $19.50 | $18.00–$20.50 | 3,680 |
| Patient Care Support Worker | Nursing Support · General Support | $22.50 | $21.00–$24.00 | 3,172 |
| Patient Care Technician (PCT) | Nursing Support · Unit Support | $21.00 | $20.00–$23.50 | 1,385 |
| Personal Care Assistant (PCA) | Nursing Support · Home Care | $16.00 | $14.00–$18.50 | 555 |
| Hospice CNA | Nursing Support · CNA/Aide | $20.50 | $19.50–$22.50 | 505 |
| Dialysis PCT | Nursing Support · Renal | $25.00 | $24.00–$26.50 | 155 |
| Patient Safety Observer (Sitter) | Nursing Support · Safety | $19.50 | $18.50–$21.00 | 113 |
| Long Term Care CNA | Nursing Support · CNA/Aide | $78.03 | $69.00–$85.31 | 56 |
Nursing Support pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 51 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
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How to become a Nursing Support.
Nursing support roles provide hands-on patient care under the direction of nurses and physicians. The category covers Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), patient care techs, hospital aides, monitor techs, unit clerks, and direct-care staff in long-term care and home health. These are the largest entry points into healthcare — short training programs, fast credentialing, and immediate patient contact.
Standard CNA path: enroll in a state-approved nursing assistant program (4-12 weeks), complete supervised clinical hours, and pass your state's competency exam to be added to the Nurse Aide Registry. Hospital PCT roles typically require a CNA plus phlebotomy and EKG training; specialty add-ons (telemetry, dialysis tech, OB tech) follow with short certificate programs.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State-approved CNA programCNA | 4-12 weeks | Minimum 75 hours (federal floor) of classroom plus clinical training. Many states require 120+ hours. Programs are offered by community colleges, nursing homes, and the Red Cross. |
| Patient Care Technician programPCT | 12-20 weeks | Combines CNA training with phlebotomy and EKG. Common requirement for hospital PCT roles. |
| Monitor / telemetry tech programCert | 4-8 weeks | Focused training in cardiac rhythm interpretation. Often paired with CNA or PCT credentials. |
| Medication aide certificationCMA / QMA | 60-100 hours | State-regulated credential allowing CNAs to administer routine medications in long-term care. Not available in every state. |
Required to work as a nursing assistant. State Nurse Aide Registry maintained by each state's Department of Health. Federal minimum is 75 hours of training plus a competency exam.
Required for nearly all hospital and skilled-nursing positions.
Required for hospital PCT roles in most systems. Short certificate program plus an exam (NHA, ASCP, or AMT).
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| CMA / QMA medication aide Certified or Qualified Medication Aide Lets CNAs administer routine oral medications in long-term care. Recognized in roughly half of states. | State board | +5-10% |
| Telemetry / EKG certification Certified Cardiographic Technician / EKG Technician Required for cardiac monitor and telemetry tech positions. | CCI / NHA | +5-10% |
| Dementia / Alzheimer specialty training Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) Specialty credential for memory care and long-term care units. | NCCDP | +3-8% |
- 0-2 yearsCNA / Nursing assistant
Entry point into clinical healthcare. Direct patient care under nurse supervision. Many use this stage to confirm interest before pursuing nursing school.
- 1-4 yearsPatient Care Tech / Acute Care CNA
Hospital-based with broader scope (phlebotomy, EKG, point-of-care testing). Better pay than long-term care CNA roles in most markets.
- 3-7 yearsSpecialty tech (telemetry, ED, OR, dialysis)
Specialty-trained support role with focused scope. Often pursued as part of a longer plan toward nursing or allied health school.
- 5+ yearsLead CNA / Senior PCT
Mentor and trainer for new staff. Coordinates assignments and supports unit workflow.
- Path-dependentTransition to LPN / RN / Allied Health
The most common 'level 5' for nursing support is a transition into a credentialed clinical role (LPN, RN, surgical tech, respiratory therapy, etc.). Many employers offer tuition reimbursement to fund the move.
Schedule. Hospitals run 12-hour shifts (3 per week) covering days, nights, and weekends. Skilled nursing typically runs 8-hour shifts with three coverage windows. Home health is largely daytime with travel between patients.
Physical demands. Among the most physically demanding roles in healthcare. Frequent patient lifting, transfers, and repositioning. Mechanical lifts have reduced injury rates but back, knee, and shoulder strain remain common.
Demand for CNAs and patient care techs is structurally high — driven by an aging US population, persistent SNF understaffing, and steady hospital throughput. Turnover is high (industry-wide annual turnover ~50% in long-term care), which keeps openings widely available.