Updated
PERM occupation, SOC 31-1131.00, #9 of 1,410 by filings
Nursing Assistants
- Biggest sponsor
- Management Health Systems, LLC · 19% of its filings
- Busiest state
- NJ · 11% of its filings
- Major group
- Healthcare support · SOC 31
Weighing an offer for this job?
Where it falls among certified offers, and the four wage levels DOL sets for it by area.
Median wage
$36,130
all PERM $103,272
Filings
5,006
#9 of 1,410
Approval
92.1%
field 96.8%
Median days
469
8 faster than the field
What it pays
Where its median offer sits among every occupation, then the whole ladder of certified offers by year and by state.
Median offered wage
$36,130above 19%
Approval rate
92.1%ahead of 21%
Median days to decision
469 daysahead of 64%
Each bar counts occupations at that value. More
- 5th to 95th
- 25th to 75th
- Median
- 10th and 90th
FY2024
$35,110 median · 1,179 certified cases
FY2025
$35,360 median · 1,918 certified cases
FY2026
$37,003 median · 1,284 certified cases
- 10th
- $33,613
- +15.4% since FY2024
- Median
- $37,003
- +5.4% since FY2024
- 90th
- $41,600
- +0.0% since FY2024
- 95th
- $41,600
- +0.0% since FY2024
Each row is that fiscal year's certified filings, counted on their own. A percentile is over the year, so a year with far fewer cases behind it is a thinner measurement than one with more.
| Fiscal year | Cases | 5th | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 1,179 | $27,891 | $29,120 | $31,980 | $35,110 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $41,600 |
| FY2025 | 1,918 | $28,954 | $31,200 | $33,280 | $35,360 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $41,600 |
| FY2026 | 1,284 | $32,552 | $33,613 | $35,131 | $37,003 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $41,600 |
A median answers whether pay moved. More
- 5th to 95th
- 25th to 75th
- Median
- 10th and 90th
IL
$35,360 median · 495 certified cases
OH
$33,280 median · 490 certified cases
FL
$41,600 median · 454 certified cases
NJ
$36,899 median · 437 certified cases
TN
$32,955 median · 302 certified cases
CA
$37,000 median · 274 certified cases
| State | Cases | 5th | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL | 495 | $28,954 | $28,954 | $33,883 | $35,360 | $37,003 | $37,003 | $37,003 |
| OH | 490 | $33,280 | $33,280 | $33,280 | $33,280 | $33,613 | $33,613 | $33,613 |
| FL | 454 | $28,621 | $34,366 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $41,600 | $41,600 |
| NJ | 437 | $32,552 | $33,738 | $33,738 | $36,899 | $36,899 | $36,899 | $43,680 |
| TN | 302 | $30,225 | $30,225 | $31,200 | $32,955 | $34,198 | $35,360 | $36,368 |
| CA | 274 | $32,000 | $32,500 | $34,000 | $37,000 | $38,000 | $38,771 | $42,578 |
One SOC code, one federal process, and a wage range that moves with the state. More
Who files it
The sponsors and firms with the most PERM filings under this code, the places the work sits, and who the workers were.
Sponsors filing it
- Management Health Systems, LLC 967 filings · 100.0% approved
- National Healthcare Corporation 592 filings · 64.0% approved
- Skilled In Management Co LLC 510 filings · 96.0% approved
- Management Health Systems, LLC DBA MedPro 388 filings · 100.0% approved
- PruittHealth 317 filings · 96.2% approved
- United Methodist Homes & Services 220 filings · 100.0% approved
How this is counted
The employers with the most applications under this code. 2,994 of 5,006 filings, 60% of the total.
Firms filing it
- Musillo Unkenholt, LLC 1,381 filings · 100.0% approved
- WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions, LTD. 1,194 filings · 73.9% approved
- EB3RECRUIT, CO. 348 filings · 100.0% approved
- The BridgeWay Frim 297 filings · 100.0% approved
- Charles H. Wintersteen, P.C. 283 filings · 100.0% approved
- LAW OFFICES OF GERARDO L. DEAN, LLC 230 filings · 100.0% approved
How this is counted
The law firms named on the most applications under this code. 3,733 of 5,006 filings, 75% of the total.
Where the jobs are
- New Jersey 551
- Illinois 520
- Ohio 515
- Tennessee 499
- Florida 473
- California 285
How this is counted
The worksite state on the application, which is where the job is and not where the company is headquartered. Volume by state across everyone is on the state map. These 6 states cover 2,843 of 5,006 filings.
Where the work is
- Sunrise, FL 406
- Cincinnati, OH 334
- Chicago, IL 284
- Blue Ash, OH 181
- Berkeley Heights, NJ 111
- North Cape May, NJ 109
How this is counted
The worksite city on the application, which is where the job is. These 6 cities cover 1,425 of 5,006 filings.
- Every sponsor that files it, by state, approval rate, offered wage and time to a decision
- Every filing for it, PERM, wage requests and H-1B, case by case
Newspapers it advertised in
- 966 cases
Sun-Sentinel
- 516 cases
Chicago Sun-Times
- 513 cases
Cincinnati Enquirer
- 477 cases
The Star-Ledger
- 166 cases
Los Angeles Daily News
- 76 cases
The Tennessean
How this is counted
The newspaper or professional journal named for each case's two print ads, one count per paper per case, however the filer spelled it.
Additional steps it used
- 1 cases
Job search websites
- 1 cases
Local or ethnic newspapers
- 1 cases
Radio or TV ads
How this is counted
The steps a professional job needs beyond the job order and the ads, by the number of cases that name each.
How long before filing it began
- 0.0%
Under 30 days
- 0.2%
30 to 59 days
- 16%
60 to 89 days
- 18%
90 to 119 days
- 24%
120 to 149 days
- 40%
150 to 180 days
- 1.6%
Over 180 days
How this is counted
Days from the first recruitment step to the filing. 20 C.F.R. § 656.17(e) puts the job order and ads 30 to 180 days before filing.
Who filled these jobs, FY2016 to FY2023
From DOL's old form; the form in use since mid-2023 doesn't carry them. Top six of each.
Country of citizenship
- Ghana 118
- Nigeria 104
- Kenya 77
- Zimbabwe 68
- Pakistan 54
- Cameroon 19
Worker's education
- Bachelor's 320
- Associate's 152
- Other 17
- High School 11
- Master's 11
- None 6
Visa held when filed
- NOT IN USA 230
- F-1 3
- B-1 1
Schools
- KENYA MEDICAL TRAINING COLLEGE 24
- NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA 15
- KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 14
- GARDEN CITY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE 11
- NURSING AND MIDWIFERY TRAINING COLLEGE 8
- LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 7
Fields of study
- NURSING 451
- MIDWIFERY 10
- CAREGIVING 5
- GENERAL NURSING 5
- PUBLIC HEALTH 3
- GENERAL EDUCATION 2
The job itself
What O*NET says the work is, what the market pays it by BLS's survey, its outlook, and DOL's wage levels year by year.
- United States1,448,910 jobs
- Cincinnati, OH-KY-INCincinnati, Blue Ash
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FLSunrise
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-INChicago
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJBerkeley Heights
- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJNorth Cape May
- middle half of pay (BLS)
- median
- 10th to 90th percentile
- DOL's Levels I to IV, left to right
- median PERM offer
| Area | BLS median | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $42,260 | ||||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $40,350 | $36,941 | $39,437 | $41,912 | $44,408 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,010 | $35,110 | $37,565 | $39,998 | $42,453 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,940 | $40,269 | $43,430 | $46,571 | $49,733 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $49,270 | $44,450 | $47,611 | $50,773 | $53,934 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $43,080 | $38,022 | $40,373 | $42,723 | $45,074 |
How these figures fit together
BLS surveys employers on what they pay everyone in a job; DOL builds its four levels from the same survey a year later (the July 2026 wage year uses BLS's May 2025 estimates). DOL publishes levels by area, not nationally, so the United States line has none. Levels are hourly in DOL's tables; here they're shown a year at 2,080 hours, as DOL computes them. The metros are the ones holding the most of this job's PERM filings, placed by Census's county files.
The block is the middle half of what employers report paying everyone in this job, citizen or not; the ticks under it are DOL's four prevailing wage levels for that metro, the floors a PERM or H-1B offer is held to. More
DOL's levels for this job in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, year by year
Each July DOL resets the four levels from BLS's newest survey. A determination keeps the figures of the year it was issued in.
| Wage year | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | $36,941 | $39,437 | $41,912 | $44,408 |
| 2025-26 | $35,693 | $38,293 | $40,872 | $43,472 |
| 2024-25 | $33,613 | $36,504 | $39,395 | $42,286 |
| 2023-24 | $28,683 | $31,512 | $34,362 | $37,190 |
| 2022-23 | $27,518 | $29,890 | $32,282 | $34,653 |
What the job is
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.
- Preparation
- Medium Preparation Needed
- O*NET Job Zone 3
- DOL's education basis
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Wage year 2026-27
- Jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +2.6%
- About 196,200 openings a year (BLS)
- Typical entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- BLS
Bright Outlook O*NET OnLine lists this job for numerous job openings.
The work, most important first
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
The education workers in it report
- 39%
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 24%
Post-Secondary Certificate
- 12%
Some College Courses
- 10%
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
- 6%
Bachelor's Degree
Titles people use for it
Certified Nurses Aide (CNA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Assistant (PCA), Certified Medication Aide (CMA), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA), Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), Nurses' Aide.
Related jobs: Home Health Aides, Paramedics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Registered Nurses, Acute Care Nurses, Emergency Medical Technicians.
This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database and O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. PERM Tracker has modified some of this information (the shares are rounded and only the top tasks are shown); what changed. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Against other jobs
Where this sits in the ranking
Ranked 9 of 1,410 by volume: 8 filed at least as many filings, and 1,401 filed no more.
- Just above
- Software Developers, Applications 5,081 filings
- Just below
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists 4,581 filings
Other healthcare support roles
Occupations sharing this one's SOC major group, which is carried in the first two digits of the code. More
Occupations sharing this one's SOC major group, which is carried in the first two digits of the code. Wages inside a group still swing hard, because the group holds every seniority level and every metro.
The same job on H-1B
11 certified H-1B labor condition applications for this occupation since FY2020, offering a median of $37,648 a year; the middle half ran $31,408 to $39,520. By state and year in the salary explorer.
Notes on these numbers
Reading the wage
A floor, not a salary survey: every level and metro mixed. DOL's four wage levels for this job, by area.
What the median is
The median wage employers committed to in federal filings for this occupation. It mixes every experience level and every metro, and it's a floor: the employer must offer at least the prevailing wage DOL determines for the occupation, level and county. Across all PERM filings the middle half of offered wages runs $45,178 to $141,357, so a figure inside that band is unremarkable whichever occupation it belongs to. The levels page reads DOL's OFLC wage search live.
What these numbers don't say
4 notes
- The code is the identity
- This one is SOC 31-1131.00. Two SOC codes can carry the same job title, so a title that looks duplicated on the ranking is two different occupations. Match on the code when you're checking a specific filing.
- A median isn’t an offer
- It's the middle of all 5,006 wages committed to for this occupation across the country, entry level and principal alike. The same role's medians swing hard by worksite, which the state map shows directly.
- Approval isn’t about the occupation
- The denial rate moves with what happened in the filing rather than with the job title, so nothing here is a property of Nursing Assistants. The measured factors are on the denial risk page, published as separate rates.
- Nothing here is pending
- All 5,006 counted here carry a decision date, because every case in DOL's disclosure files does, so a case still waiting is in none of them. The largest filer of this occupation is Management Health Systems, LLC. Where the queue stands today is on the processing times page.
The window these figures cover: DOL's PERM disclosure files for fiscal years 2024 to 2026, through the third quarter of 2026, 373,939 decided cases. Nothing pending is counted here. How each figure is built
Weighing an offer?
Compare it against this median, then check the state map, where the same occupation's medians swing hard by worksite.
Setting one?
All 1,410 occupations sort together on the wages page, and denial rates show how outcome moves with the offered wage.
Filings newer than DOL's last published file can't be attributed to this occupation until DOL publishes them. The live list on the case search page carries them by employer.
Case data: DOL quarterly disclosure files (flag.dol.gov) · data through Jun 30, 2026 · quarterly
Employers and firms: Derived from DOL's disclosure files · data through Jun 30, 2026 · rebuilt with each quarterly load
O*NET occupation data: O*NET Database, USDOL/ETA (onetcenter.org) · data through Aug 16, 2026 · twice a year
BLS market pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (bls.gov) · data through May 31, 2025 · yearly, each spring
BLS employment projections: BLS Employment Projections (bls.gov) · data through Dec 31, 2025 · yearly, each autumn
DOL wage tables: DOL OFLC wage data downloads (flag.dol.gov) · data through Jul 1, 2026 · yearly, each july
What each source includes
Case data: Decided PERM cases only. A case still waiting isn't in here, so counts and durations describe finished cases.
Employers and firms: Employers, law firms and occupations ranked from decided cases only.
O*NET occupation data: What O*NET says each occupation is and takes: its description, tasks, Job Zone and the education workers report. A description of the job everywhere, not of any one employer's opening.
BLS market pay: What employers report paying everyone in each job, nationally, by state and by metro, from BLS's yearly survey (May of the year named). Citizens and immigrants alike; not PERM offers.
BLS employment projections: BLS's ten-year projection of each job's employment and yearly openings, and the entry education it calls typical. A projection, not a count.
DOL wage tables: The four prevailing wage levels DOL publishes for every job in every area, each wage year from 2021-22, as DOL's own tables print them. The floors an offer is held to, not what anyone was paid.
Cite this page
Waiting on a PERM case?
- When it'll likely be decided
- An email when DOL moves it