How much does a home health and personal care aide make?
The median home health and personal care aide in the United States earns $35,800 per year, about $17.21 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all home health and personal care aides earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-1120.
Home health and personal care aide salary range
Pay for home health and personal care aides spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,040 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $45,040. The average (mean) wage of $36,120 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,040 | $13.00 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $31,920 | $15.35 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,800 | $17.21 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $39,470 | $18.98 | |
| 90th percentile | $45,040 | $21.65 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for home health and personal care aides (SOC 31-1120), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Home health and personal care aide salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Home health and personal care aides earn the most in Washington at $47,730 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $22,520. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47,730 | 103,260 |
| Oregon | $44,410 | 42,330 |
| Rhode Island | $43,680 | 7,490 |
| District of Columbia | $42,700 | 12,810 |
| Vermont | $41,600 | 7,700 |
| Massachusetts | $40,910 | 117,940 |
| Alaska | $39,740 | 6,530 |
| New York | $39,620 | 663,140 |
| North Dakota | $39,440 | 7,730 |
| Connecticut | $38,990 | 49,510 |
| New Hampshire | $38,760 | 9,440 |
| Maine | $38,580 | 18,630 |
| Colorado | $38,540 | 44,650 |
| Minnesota | $38,370 | 128,680 |
| Hawaii | $38,110 | 6,150 |
| Illinois | $38,060 | 134,100 |
| Maryland | $38,040 | 46,560 |
| South Dakota | $37,740 | 4,210 |
| New Jersey | $37,090 | 117,080 |
| Montana | $36,630 | 10,400 |
| Kentucky | $36,440 | 31,260 |
| Arizona | $36,420 | 74,540 |
| Wisconsin | $36,340 | 82,430 |
| Nebraska | $36,150 | 13,660 |
| Iowa | $36,080 | 25,800 |
| Utah | $35,880 | 17,130 |
| Indiana | $35,060 | 57,050 |
| Michigan | $35,000 | 95,020 |
| Idaho | $34,790 | 20,770 |
| Ohio | $34,460 | 106,940 |
| California | $34,320 | 970,150 |
| Delaware | $34,320 | 11,820 |
| Florida | $33,800 | 90,170 |
| Nevada | $33,670 | 17,940 |
| Wyoming | $33,190 | 3,410 |
| Missouri | $33,080 | 94,810 |
| Tennessee | $32,130 | 35,950 |
| Kansas | $31,260 | 25,350 |
| North Carolina | $31,240 | 58,880 |
| Virginia | $30,300 | 70,070 |
| South Carolina | $30,110 | 40,750 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,420 | 257,370 |
| Georgia | $29,270 | 50,870 |
| New Mexico | $28,520 | 38,910 |
| West Virginia | $28,010 | 18,890 |
| Alabama | $27,840 | 20,930 |
| Oklahoma | $27,710 | 20,310 |
| Arkansas | $27,660 | 19,840 |
| Texas | $24,230 | 329,590 |
| Mississippi | $23,860 | 21,800 |
| Louisiana | $22,520 | 45,060 |
State median wages for home health and personal care aides (SOC 31-1120), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for home health and personal care aides
The BLS projects employment of home health and personal care aides to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 4,677,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 5,524,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 760,500 openings a year for home health and personal care aides. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a home health and personal care aide
The typical entry-level education for home health and personal care aides is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a home health and personal care aide earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $47,730) and the lowest (Louisiana, $22,520) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 4,305,810 people work as home health and personal care aides in the United States. At $35,800 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Home health and personal care aide salary FAQ
How much does a home health and personal care aide make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a home health and personal care aide is $17.21. The middle half of home health and personal care aides earn between $15.35 and $18.98 per hour.
What is the highest home health and personal care aide salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of home health and personal care aides earn more than $45,040 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a home health and personal care aide make a year?
The median annual salary for a home health and personal care aide is $35,800. The average (mean) wage of $36,120 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a home health and personal care aide a well paid job?
At $35,800 a year, a home health and personal care aide earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 4,305,810 people work as home health and personal care aides in the United States.
Which state pays home health and personal care aides the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for home health and personal care aides at $47,730 a year. Oregon ($44,410) and Rhode Island ($43,680) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a home health and personal care aide a good career?
Employment of home health and personal care aides is projected to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 760,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a home health and personal care aide?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for home health and personal care aides as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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