ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Unit Helper Jobs in Portland, ME (NOW HIRING)

MaineHealth

Nursing Unit Helper - Cancer Care

Portland, ME · On-site

$18.73 - $21.92/hr

As a Unit Helper , you'll play a vital role in ensuring our unit is organized, well-stocked, safe, and ready to provide the highest level of care for our patients. In this hands-on role, you'll help ...

Encompass Health

Unit Secretary

Portland, ME

$43K - $53K/yr

Unit Secretary Career Opportunity Join a Team That Puts Your Passion for Helping Others First Are you looking for a career close to home and heart? Join Encompass Health as a Unit Secretary, playing ...

Encompass Health Corporation

Unit Secretary

Portland, ME · On-site

$43K - $52K/yr

Unit Secretary Career Opportunity Join a Team That Puts Your Passion for Helping Others First Are you looking for a career close to home and heart? Join Encompass Health as a Unit Secretary, playing ...

Wellpath

Unit Clerk (Hourly)

Windham, ME · On-site

$16 - $21.25/hr

Overview The Unit Clerk provides administrative and medical support to a healthcare unit. Responsibilities * Maintain accurate logs, inventories, and forms. * Ensure the clinic and dental rooms are ...

Wellpath

Unit Clerk

Windham, ME · On-site

$16 - $21.25/hr

... by helping society's most vulnerable and often overlooked individuals. Every day we have the ... The Unit Clerk provides administrative and medical support to a healthcare unit. * Maintain ...

Wellpath

Unit Clerk

Windham, ME · On-site

$16 - $21.25/hr

... by helping society's most vulnerable and often overlooked individuals. Every day we have the ... How you make a difference The Unit Clerk provides administrative and medical support to a health ...

Medical Solutions

Travel ICU RN

Brunswick, ME · On-site

Posted job title: ICU (Intensive Care Unit) About Medical Solutions At Medical Solutions, we're people who care, helping people who care. No matter how you look at it, there's a whole lot of care ...

Host Healthcare

Travel ICU RN

Brunswick, ME · On-site

$2.1K - $2.9K/wk

Specialty: ICU - Intensive Care Unit * Discipline: RN * Start Date: 08/31/2026 * Duration: 13 weeks ... We are on a mission to help others live better and we do this by helping the healers of the world ...

GQR Healthcare

Travel ICU RN

Brunswick, ME · On-site

$2.2K - $2.3K/wk

Specialty: ICU - Intensive Care Unit * Discipline: RN * Start Date: 08/31/2026 * Duration: 13 weeks ... A dedicated recruiter and support team that will help you every step of the way to sure you start ...

New

Medical Solutions

Local Contract ICU RN

Brunswick, ME · On-site

Posted job title: ICU (Intensive Care Unit) About Medical Solutions At Medical Solutions, we're people who care, helping people who care. No matter how you look at it, there's a whole lot of care ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsUnit Helper JobsUnit Helper Jobs in Portland, ME

Unit Helper information

See Portland, ME salary details

$8

$20

$31

How much do unit helper jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for unit helper in Portland, ME is $20.25, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.24 and $21.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a unit helper?

Unit Helpers are support staff in healthcare facilities who assist nurses and other medical personnel with non-clinical tasks. Their duties typically include transporting patients, delivering supplies, stocking equipment, and maintaining cleanliness in patient care areas. While they do not provide direct medical care, Unit Helpers play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of hospital units. Their support allows clinical staff to focus on patient care and improves the overall efficiency of healthcare services.

What are the typical responsibilities of a unit helper in a hospital setting?

As a Unit Helper in a hospital, your daily tasks often include assisting nursing staff with non-clinical duties such as transporting patients, delivering supplies, maintaining clean environments, and supporting patient comfort. You may also help with stocking medical carts, restocking linens, and ensuring equipment is readily available. Collaboration with nurses, housekeeping, and other support staff is key to ensuring smooth operations and a positive patient experience. This role offers valuable exposure to healthcare workflows and can be a stepping stone to more advanced positions within the hospital.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a unit helper, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Unit Helper, you need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with hospital sanitation protocols, basic medical equipment, and inventory management systems is often required. Reliability, teamwork, and effective communication are important soft skills for supporting clinical staff and maintaining a safe environment. These skills ensure efficient unit operations, patient safety, and smooth workflow in healthcare settings.

What is the difference between Unit Helper vs Nursing Assistant?

AspectUnit HelperNursing Assistant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; on-the-job trainingHigh school diploma or GED; certification often required
Work EnvironmentHospitals, long-term care facilities, clinicsHospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in healthcare settings for basic support rolesStandard role in patient care, often with more direct patient interaction
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for entry-level healthcare support rolesCompared for roles with more direct patient care responsibilities

The main difference between a Unit Helper and a Nursing Assistant lies in their responsibilities and required certifications. Unit Helpers typically perform basic support tasks without requiring formal certification, while Nursing Assistants have more direct patient care duties and often need certification. Both roles are essential in healthcare settings, but Nursing Assistants usually have a broader scope of practice and more patient interaction.

How to become a unit helper?

To become a unit helper, typically you need a high school diploma or equivalent and good communication skills. Some positions may require basic knowledge of medical or caregiving procedures, and on-the-job training is often provided. Volunteering or previous experience in healthcare settings can also improve your chances.

What cities near Portland, ME are hiring for Unit Helper jobs?

Cities near Portland, ME with the most Unit Helper job openings:

Unit Helper jobs near you
Infographic showing various Unit Helper job openings in Portland, ME as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $42,121 per year, or $20.3 per hour.

Nursing Unit Helper - Cancer Care

Portland, ME • On-site

Maine Medical Center

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 57 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

549th of 1,063 rated hospitals

People enjoy working here

Recommended by students

Recommended by parents

Learn more about Maine Medical Centerexternal

$18.73 - $21.92/hr

Other

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Description
Maine Medical Center
Nursing/Clinical Support
Req #: 84883
Unit Helper - Medical Oncology (CFT7)
Make a difference behind the scenes while supporting exceptional patient care.
Join our dedicated team on CFT7, a 32-bed Medical Oncology unit that provides both acute and intermediate-level care for adult patients with cancer and hematologic disorders. As a Unit Helper, you'll play a vital role in ensuring our unit is organized, well-stocked, safe, and ready to provide the highest level of care for our patients.
In this hands-on role, you'll help maintain the day-to-day operations of the unit by organizing supplies, preparing patient rooms, ensuring equipment is available and functioning properly, and assisting with unit upkeep. While this position is primarily focused on supporting the clinical environment, you may occasionally assist with answering phones or other unit needs as they arise.
What you'll do:
  • Keep patient care areas clean, organized, and fully stocked.
  • Prepare patient rooms by changing signage, stripping rooms after discharge, and ensuring all necessary equipment is in place.
  • Organize supply and equipment rooms to support efficient patient care.
  • Submit work orders for repairs and transport equipment to Clinical Engineering as needed.
  • Provide occasional phone coverage and assist the team with unit support duties.
  • Help create a welcoming, safe, and efficient environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

If you're organized, dependable, enjoy staying active throughout your day, and take pride in supporting others, we'd love to have you join our team. Every task you complete helps our caregivers focus on what matters most-providing outstanding care to our patients.
Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
  1. Education: High school diploma or GED preferred.
  2. License/Certifications: N/A
  3. Experience: N/A
  4. Additional Skills/Requirements Required: N/A
  5. Additional Skills/Requirements Preferred: N/A

Additional Information
MaineHealth is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment where care team members can thrive while making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve across Maine and New Hampshire. We offer competitive benefits including paid parental leave, flexible work options, student loan assistance, professional development opportunities, and well-being resources-so you can grow your career while feeling supported both personally and professionally.
We recognize the value each team member brings to our organization. Any offer of employment will depend on qualifications such as skills, relevant experience, education, certifications, and other job-related factors. The base range is an estimate and does not reflect the full value of our total compensation package.
The pay range for this position is $18.73 to $21.92 per hour.
Compensation for part-time positions is determined on a prorated basis consistent with the scheduled hours and applicable full-time equivalent (FTE).
In addition to base pay, MaineHealth offers comprehensive benefits, recognition programs, career growth opportunities, and, where applicable, shift differentials or other incentives.
If you have questions about this role, please contact [email protected]
Hiring Scam Alert
MaineHealth will never request financial information during the interview or pre-hiring process. All legitimate communications will come from an email address ending in @mainehealth.org. If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it immediately to [email protected] .
Notice Regarding Maine Employer Surveillance Statute: Pursuant to Maine's Employer Surveillance Statute, prospective care team members are notified that MaineHealth may monitor, collect, record, review, or retain information related to the use of its systems, networks, applications, files, data, communications platforms (including notified recordings), smart badges, building access, company vehicle GPS data, business calls, and workplace security cameras.
Information collected may be used for legitimate business purposes, including security, safety, compliance, investigations, training, quality assurance, and operational management.

What Maine Medical Center employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply