Orderlies vs Physical Therapist Aides: $38K vs $35K Median Pay

Orderlies vs Physical Therapist Aides: what changes?

Consider Orderlies if you want to transport patients to areas such as operating rooms or x-ray rooms using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds. Consider Physical Therapist Aides if you would rather under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Orderlies and Physical Therapist Aides. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Orderlies

National median pay (2025): $38,290
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 7,200

Know before you choose

Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.

See the full Orderlies brief

Physical Therapist Aides

National median pay (2025): $35,240
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,400

Know before you choose

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

See the full Physical Therapist Aides brief

How the national numbers differ

Orderlies has the edge on median pay

Orderlies is at $38,290, compared with $35,240 for Physical Therapist Aides.

Orderlies has the edge on annual openings

Orderlies is at 7,200 annual openings, compared with 6,400 annual openings for Physical Therapist Aides.

48.3/ 100

Orderlies

45.6/ 100

Physical Therapist Aides

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence