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Personal care aide: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,800median pay per year, or $17.21 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $27,040lowest 10% earn less
  2. $31,92025th percentile
  3. $35,800median
  4. $39,47075th percentile
  5. $45,040top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Home health and personal care aides earned a median of $35,800 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+18.1%[2]
Openings per year
760,500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do personal care aides make?

BLS counts home health aides and personal care aides together. The median wage was $35,800 a year, or $17.21 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $36,120 a year, or $17.36 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4].

Here is how annual pay spread out in May 2025:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $27,040 $13.00
25th[3][8] $31,920 $15.35
75th[3][8] $39,470 $18.98
90th[3][8] $45,040 $21.65

A percentile is a boundary. For example, the lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $27,040[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary jobs only. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 4,305,810 people held these jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median wage among the states at $47,730[12]. Oregon came next at $44,410, then Rhode Island at $43,680[12]. Louisiana had the lowest listed median at $22,520[12].

California had the most jobs with 970,150, followed by New York with 663,140 and Texas with 329,590[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Grants Pass, OR led on pay at $53,120[14]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA followed at $48,210[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs with 644,700 and a median of $39,680[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$47,730103,260
Oregon$44,41042,330
Rhode Island$43,6807,490
District of Columbia$42,70012,810
Vermont$41,6007,700
Massachusetts$40,910117,940
Alaska$39,7406,530
New York$39,620663,140
North Dakota$39,4407,730
Connecticut$38,99049,510
New Hampshire$38,7609,440
Maine$38,58018,630
Colorado$38,54044,650
Minnesota$38,370128,680
Hawaii$38,1106,150
Illinois$38,060134,100
Maryland$38,04046,560
South Dakota$37,7404,210
New Jersey$37,090117,080
Montana$36,63010,400
Kentucky$36,44031,260
Arizona$36,42074,540
Wisconsin$36,34082,430
Nebraska$36,15013,660
Iowa$36,08025,800
Utah$35,88017,130
Indiana$35,06057,050
Michigan$35,00095,020
Idaho$34,79020,770
Ohio$34,460106,940
California$34,320970,150
Delaware$34,32011,820
Florida$33,80090,170
Nevada$33,67017,940
Wyoming$33,1903,410
Missouri$33,08094,810
Tennessee$32,13035,950
Kansas$31,26025,350
North Carolina$31,24058,880
Virginia$30,30070,070
South Carolina$30,11040,750
Pennsylvania$29,420257,370
Georgia$29,27050,870
New Mexico$28,52038,910
West Virginia$28,01018,890
Alabama$27,84020,930
Oklahoma$27,71020,310
Arkansas$27,66019,840
Texas$24,230329,590
Mississippi$23,86021,800
Louisiana$22,52045,060

How to become a personal care aide

Agencies that are certified for home health or hospice work must follow rules about aides' employment. Aides at those agencies complete formal training and pass a standardized test[19][20]. Aides may also need first aid and CPR certification[21]. Postsecondary programs exist at community colleges and vocational schools[16].

Important qualities include attention to detail, compassion, dependability and clear communication[22][23][24][25].

What personal care aides do

Aides help people with illness or disabilities with daily activities[26][27]. Tasks reported to O*NET include:

Workers reported job titles such as caregiver, home care aide, personal care assistant and direct care worker[30][31].

Where they work

Many aides work in clients' homes. Others work in group homes or care communities[32]. Some work with a single client and others with groups. Some stay with a client for a long time, for example in hospice care[32]. Individual and family services employers accounted for 51% of jobs in 2025[33].

Full-time work is typical, though part-time work is common. Evening and weekend hours may be needed, depending on client needs[34].

The work can be physically and emotionally demanding. Aides who help clients in and out of bed or with walking need proper lifting techniques to avoid back injury[35]. Some clients have cognitive impairments or mental health issues and may show difficult behavior. Aides also face minor infections and communicable diseases[36].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of these aides to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 4,677,100 jobs to 5,524,400, a gain of about 847,300[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[37]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. In 2025, 3% of aides were self-employed[38].

BLS expects about 760,500 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 7.7% of workers leave the labor force and 5.5% move to a different occupation[39].

Is it a good fit?

Pay is well below the all-occupations median, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $45,040[3][4]. Entry usually asks for a high school diploma or equivalent and short-term training[6]. Projected growth is far above the all-occupations rate, and openings are plentiful[2][37][5]. The work can be physically and emotionally demanding[35]. State rules and pay differ, so local figures matter[12][18].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[40].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a personal care aide make an hour?
The median was $17.21 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $13.00 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $21.65[8].
What education do you need to be a personal care aide?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical, and some positions need no formal credential[6][16].
Are personal care aides in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035, and about 760,500 openings are expected each year[2][5].
What is the highest paying state for personal care aides?
Washington had the highest median at $47,730 a year, followed by Oregon at $44,410[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the US was $35,800 per year and $17.21 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Home Health and Personal Care Aides is projected to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,677,100 to 5,524,400 jobs (a change of +847,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Home Health and Personal Care Aides: 10th percentile $27,040, 25th percentile $31,920, 75th percentile $39,470, 90th percentile $45,040. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 760,500 openings for Home Health and Personal Care Aides are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Home Health and Personal Care Aides: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Home Health and Personal Care Aides was $36,120 per year and $17.36 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Home Health and Personal Care Aides: 10th percentile $13.00, 25th percentile $15.35, 75th percentile $18.98, 90th percentile $21.65. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,305,810 people were employed as Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Home Health and Personal Care Aides in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Home Health and Personal Care Aides jobs: California 970,150; New York 663,140; Texas 329,590; Pennsylvania 257,370; Illinois 134,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Home Health and Personal Care Aides (areas with at least 100 jobs): Grants Pass, OR $53,120; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $48,210; Longview-Kelso, WA $47,840; Kennewick-Richland, WA $47,810; Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA $47,730; Walla Walla, WA $47,700; Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $47,410; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $46,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Home Health and Personal Care Aides jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 644,700 (median $39,680); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 385,530 (median $34,320); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 158,280 (median $29,800); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 119,120 (median $35,950); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 108,520 (median $38,180); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 102,760 (median $34,320). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET description of Home Health and Personal Care Aides. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET description of Home Health and Personal Care Aides. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Home Health and Personal Care Aides. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Home Health and Personal Care Aides. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 31-1121.00 (Home Health Aides) sample job titles reported by workers: Caregiver, CHHA (Certified Home Health Aide), CMA (Certified Medical Aide), CNA (Certified Nurses Aide), Direct Care Professional, Home Care Aide, Home Health Provider, Hospice Aide. O*NET OnLine
  31. O*NET 31-1122.00 (Personal Care Aides) sample job titles reported by workers: Care Provider, Caregiver, Direct Care Worker, Home Care Aide, Medication Aide, Personal Care Aide, Personal Care Assistant (PCA), Personal Care Attendant (PCA). O*NET OnLine
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of home health and personal care aides in 2025: Individual and family services 51%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  38. BLS Employment Projections: 3% of Home Health and Personal Care Aides were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  39. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Home Health and Personal Care Aides: 7.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  40. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.