Caregiver Salary by StateBLS figures for home health and personal care aides combined
BLS OEWS May 2025 · Broader BLS occupation: SOC 31-1120 Home Health and Personal Care Aides
BLS has no caregiver occupation, so this page shows home health and personal care aides combined, the broader group BLS publishes.
They earned a median $35,800 a year ($17.21 an hour) in May 2025 (SOC 31-1120 Home Health and Personal Care Aides).
The middle half of that group earned between $31,920 and $39,470.
BLS publishes home health aides and personal care aides as one combined occupation (31-1120) and has no separate caregiver category; this is that combined group.
OEWS covers payroll employees only, so caregivers hired directly by families are not in these figures.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers employed directly by private households (such as caregivers hired by families), overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Home Health and Personal Care Aides
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| 25th | $31,920 | $15.35 |
| 50th (median) | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| 75th | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| 90th | $45,040 | $21.65 |
| Mean (average) | $36,120 | $17.36 |
SOC 31-1120 Home Health and Personal Care Aides, the broader occupation (not a caregiver series): 4,305,810 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay for Home Health and Personal Care Aides by State
Median annual wage for SOC 31-1120 Home Health and Personal Care Aides in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $35,800; it is not adjusted for living costs.
BLS has no state series for caregivers; these are the figures for home health and personal care aides combined, shown as a labelled stand-in.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,840 | $13.39 | $22,470–$35,900 | 20,930 | −22% |
| Alaska | $39,740 | $19.11 | $30,710–$46,740 | 6,530 | +11% |
| Arizona | $36,420 | $17.51 | $30,990–$40,660 | 74,540 | +2% |
| Arkansas | $27,660 | $13.30 | $23,940–$31,680 | 19,840 | −23% |
| California | $34,320 | $16.50 | $34,320–$39,260 | 970,150 | −4% |
| Colorado | $38,540 | $18.53 | $35,420–$46,630 | 44,650 | +8% |
| Connecticut | $38,990 | $18.75 | $34,010–$45,150 | 49,510 | +9% |
| Delaware | $34,320 | $16.50 | $31,200–$40,430 | 11,820 | −4% |
| District of Columbia | $42,700 | $20.53 | $38,290–$45,840 | 12,810 | +19% |
| Florida | $33,800 | $16.25 | $30,660–$38,310 | 90,170 | −6% |
| Georgia | $29,270 | $14.07 | $23,720–$39,710 | 50,870 | −18% |
| Hawaii | $38,110 | $18.32 | $31,200–$45,720 | 6,150 | +6% |
| Idaho | $34,790 | $16.72 | $28,010–$41,600 | 20,770 | −3% |
| Illinois | $38,060 | $18.30 | $34,200–$42,500 | 134,100 | +6% |
| Indiana | $35,060 | $16.86 | $29,390–$39,480 | 57,050 | −2% |
| Iowa | $36,080 | $17.34 | $30,420–$45,490 | 25,800 | +1% |
| Kansas | $31,260 | $15.03 | $27,090–$38,350 | 25,350 | −13% |
| Kentucky | $36,440 | $17.52 | $28,110–$49,080 | 31,260 | +2% |
| Louisiana | $22,520 | $10.83 | $19,190–$32,130 | 45,060 | −37% |
| Maine | $38,580 | $18.55 | $35,130–$46,860 | 18,630 | +8% |
| Maryland | $38,040 | $18.29 | $31,540–$46,880 | 46,560 | +6% |
| Massachusetts | $40,910 | $19.67 | $36,960–$46,700 | 117,940 | +14% |
| Michigan | $35,000 | $16.83 | $27,880–$42,790 | 95,020 | −2% |
| Minnesota | $38,370 | $18.45 | $33,000–$46,650 | 128,680 | +7% |
| Mississippi | $23,860 | $11.47 | $21,870–$29,620 | 21,800 | −33% |
| Missouri | $33,080 | $15.90 | $28,600–$43,410 | 94,810 | −8% |
| Montana | $36,630 | $17.61 | $29,370–$44,740 | 10,400 | +2% |
| Nebraska | $36,150 | $17.38 | $30,670–$43,680 | 13,660 | +1% |
| Nevada | $33,670 | $16.19 | $26,400–$36,600 | 17,940 | −6% |
| New Hampshire | $38,760 | $18.64 | $31,950–$47,770 | 9,440 | +8% |
| New Jersey | $37,090 | $17.83 | $32,220–$48,180 | 117,080 | +4% |
| New Mexico | $28,520 | $13.71 | $26,400–$36,440 | 38,910 | −20% |
| New York | $39,620 | $19.05 | $36,960–$46,690 | 663,140 | +11% |
| North Carolina | $31,240 | $15.02 | $24,690–$38,680 | 58,880 | −13% |
| North Dakota | $39,440 | $18.96 | $36,220–$49,190 | 7,730 | +10% |
| Ohio | $34,460 | $16.57 | $28,370–$39,530 | 106,940 | −4% |
| Oklahoma | $27,710 | $13.32 | $22,940–$35,150 | 20,310 | −23% |
| Oregon | $44,410 | $21.35 | $37,650–$53,120 | 42,330 | +24% |
| Pennsylvania | $29,420 | $14.14 | $26,510–$37,960 | 257,370 | −18% |
| Rhode Island | $43,680 | $21.00 | $31,860–$46,700 | 7,490 | +22% |
| South Carolina | $30,110 | $14.48 | $23,600–$35,590 | 40,750 | −16% |
| South Dakota | $37,740 | $18.15 | $32,500–$47,320 | 4,210 | +5% |
| Tennessee | $32,130 | $15.45 | $28,090–$38,150 | 35,950 | −10% |
| Texas | $24,230 | $11.65 | $21,980–$31,560 | 329,590 | −32% |
| Utah | $35,880 | $17.25 | $30,730–$45,250 | 17,130 | +0% |
| Vermont | $41,600 | $20.00 | $31,310–$48,040 | 7,700 | +16% |
| Virginia | $30,300 | $14.57 | $26,980–$40,650 | 70,070 | −15% |
| Washington | $47,730 | $22.95 | $40,130–$54,980 | 103,260 | +33% |
| West Virginia | $28,010 | $13.47 | $22,430–$32,590 | 18,890 | −22% |
| Wisconsin | $36,340 | $17.47 | $28,030–$42,820 | 82,430 | +2% |
| Wyoming | $33,190 | $15.96 | $27,700–$47,000 | 3,410 | −7% |
Pay by employer type
National median for home health and personal care aides combined (SOC 31-1120) by the industry of the employer, BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates.
BLS publishes no setting split for caregivers alone; these rows are for the whole occupation.
Most non-medical home care agencies are classified in services for the elderly and persons with disabilities; Medicare-certified home health agencies are in home health care services.
| Employer industry | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home health care services | $36,230 | $17.42 | 1,079,060 |
| Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities | $34,810 | $16.73 | 2,274,140 |
| Assisted living and continuing care retirement communities | $37,060 | $17.82 | 265,100 |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing) | $36,850 | $17.72 | 55,500 |
| Hospitals | $40,320 | $19.38 | 28,830 |
Selected senior care and health care industries only; the national figure above covers every industry.
Job outlook for Home Health and Personal Care Aides
BLS projects employment of home health and personal care aides combined to grow from about 4,677,100 in 2025 to 5,524,400 in 2035 (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
BLS projects no separate figure for caregivers.
The projection counts include the self-employed and come from a different BLS program, so they are not directly comparable with the OEWS payroll job count above.
Pay by senior care role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Certified nursing assistants match a BLS occupation, nursing assistants.
Caregivers, personal care aides and home health aides are counted in home health and personal care aides, which BLS publishes as one combined group, and home health and hospice nurses in registered nurses.
The other titles borrow the closest available occupation, labelled in the last column.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Caregiver | $35,800 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | BLS occupation (SOC 31-1131) |
| Personal Care Aide | $35,800 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Companion Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Live-In Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Private Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Respite Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Memory Care Caregiver | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Home Health Aide | $35,800 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Hospice Aide | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Medication Aide | $42,260 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1131) |
| Resident Care Aide | $35,800 | Closest available occupation (SOC 31-1120) |
| Home Health Nurse | $97,550 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 29-1141) |
| Hospice Nurse | $97,550 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 29-1141) |
| Hospice Social Worker | $67,880 | Broader BLS occupation (SOC 21-1022) |
| Hospice Chaplain | $60,810 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 21-2011) |
| Director of Nursing | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Home Care Scheduler | $45,930 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 43-6013) |
| Care Coordinator | $45,930 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 21-1093) |
| Home Care Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Home Health Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Assisted Living Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Nursing Home Administrator | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
| Activities Director | $36,560 | Closest available occupation (weak match) (SOC 39-9032) |
| Memory Care Director | $123,860 | Closest available occupation (SOC 11-9111) |
Caregiver salary questions
01How much do caregivers make a year?
BLS publishes no separate wage for caregivers.
The median annual wage for home health and personal care aides combined (SOC 31-1120), the broader group BLS publishes, was $35,800 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
The 10th percentile was $27,040 and the 90th percentile $45,040.
02How much do caregivers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for home health and personal care aides combined was $17.21 in May 2025.
BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime or bonuses.
03Which state pays caregivers the most?
For home health and personal care aides combined, Washington had the highest median in May 2025 at $47,730.
Louisiana had the lowest at $22,520.
These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average caregiver salary?
The mean (average) annual wage for home health and personal care aides combined was $36,120 in May 2025, against a $35,800 median.
The median is the better guide to a typical salary, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up.
05Is demand for caregivers growing?
BLS projects employment of home health and personal care aides combined to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,677,100 to 5,524,400 jobs, with about 760,500 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections 2025–35).
Those projection counts include the self-employed and come from a different BLS program, so they are not directly comparable with the OEWS payroll job count on this page.
06Why does this page show home health and personal care aides?
BLS has no caregiver occupation.
It counts paid caregivers who help with daily living as home health and personal care aides (SOC 31-1120) and publishes the two as one combined group, so every figure on this page is for that group, not a caregiver series.
07Does this include caregivers hired directly by families?
No. OEWS counts wage-and-salary workers on employer payrolls and leaves out the self-employed and workers employed by private households, so caregivers hired and paid directly by a family are not in these figures.
BLS publishes no figure for them, and this page does not estimate one.
08Do caregivers earn less than CNAs?
As groups, yes.
The national median for home health and personal care aides was $17.21 an hour in May 2025, $3.11 below the $20.32 median for nursing assistants, the occupation that includes CNAs (BLS OEWS).