by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Health Aide explores Health Aide. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Routine Care And Assistance To Patients Under The Direct Supervision Of Other Health Care Professionals, And/or To Perform Routine Maintenance And General Assistance In Health Care Facilities And Laboratories. Read on to learn the key facts every health aide student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering health aide programs.
Across the country, health aide draws strong interest, with 488 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Health Aide Schools ranking analyzes these 17 schools to determine the best overall colleges for health aide students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of health aide programs later in this article.
Studies in Health Aide emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations health aide graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a health aide program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a health aide major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several health aide degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 29 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 159 |
People currently working in careers related to health aide tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college courses | 42.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 25.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 17.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 9.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Master’s degree | 0.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in health aide careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in health aide opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to health aide.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to health aide.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric Aides | 845,589 | 3.6% |
| Nursing Assistants | 87,005 | -4.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of health aide graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,334 |
| 4 years | $27,226 |
| 5 years | $29,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for health aide graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers health aide grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric Aides | $51,090 |
| Nursing Assistants | $27,058 |
With 17 different health aide programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased health aide school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in health aide, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Home Health Aide/Home Attendant | 1,704 |
| Medication Aide | 724 |
| Rehabilitation Aide | 158 |
| Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Other | 49 |
| Physical Therapy Technician/Aide | 20 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
