How much does a home care aide make?
a year · about $17 an hour
A typical home care aide in the United States makes $35,800 a year, about $17 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
An aide may help a client dress, cook a meal, and tidy up, then accompany them to an appointment or outing. They record care and health changes and tell a supervisor or nurse.
Did you know? Surprisingly, driving is required in 45% of personal-care-aide jobs in the United States.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $27,040 and $45,040How do you become one?
In the U.S., aides usually need high school or equivalent, though some jobs do not, and get short on-the-job training. State or employer rules vary; Washington allows qualified 16- and 17-year-olds in some settings.
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, extra training or state-required credentials can affect pay, as can the employer and location. More hours can raise total earnings, while more complex care duties may pay differently.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($47,730), lowest in Louisiana ($22,520).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a home care worker averages $25,459. Home care aide salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $27,040 | $35,800 | $45,040 | about 4.3 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47,730 | about 103,000 |
| Oregon | $44,410 | about 42,000 |
| Rhode Island | $43,680 | about 7,000 |
| District of Columbia | $42,700 | about 13,000 |
| Vermont | $41,600 | about 8,000 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/pdf/personal-care-aides.pdf
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-1122.00
- www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/home-and-community-services/hiring-minors-paid-caregivers
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY