by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Medication Aide explores Medication Aide. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Administer Prescribed Medications; Observe And Report Patient Reactions And Side Effects; And Perform Related Emergency And Recording Duties Under The Supervision Of Nurses And/or Physicians. Includes Instruction In Basic Anatomy And Physiology, Common Medications And Their Effects, Taking Vital Signs, Oxygen Administration, Medication Administration And Application, Record-Keeping, And Patient Observation. Continue reading for the key facts every medication aide student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medication aide programs.
Across the country, medication aide is a popular field of study, with 724 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medication Aide Schools ranking analyzes these 29 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medication aide students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medication aide programs later in this article.
Coursework for Medication Aide develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medication aide graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a medication aide program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a medication aide major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to medication aide tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 36.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 25.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 14.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.5% |
| Master’s degree | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 1.8% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medication aide careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in medication aide opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to medication aide.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medication aide.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 866,044 | 14.8% |
| Endoscopy Technicians | 708,506 | 7.8% |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | 191,989 | 3.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of medication aide graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 medication aide graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medication aide grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $53,362 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | $48,496 |
| Endoscopy Technicians | $40,643 |
With 29 different medication aide programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medication aide school rankings to help you.
Those considering medication 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 |
| Health Aide | 488 |
| Rehabilitation Aide | 158 |
| Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies, Other | 49 |
| Physical Therapy Technician/Aide | 20 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
