How to read the numbers
BLS reports home health aides and personal care aides under one code, SOC 31-1120, so every figure here covers both titles. The figures are hourly wages from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, the latest release. "Jobs" is the BLS employment estimate, rounded to the nearest ten, without self-employed aides. State rows come from the BLS state file (oesm25st.zip, dated April 30, 2026), and five random states were checked against the BLS Public Data API with no mismatches.
Pay in all 50 states and the District of Columbia
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| State | Jobs (May 2025) | Median hourly | 10th percentile | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 20,930 | $13.39 | $10.81 | $17.26 |
| Alaska | 6,530 | $19.11 | $14.77 | $22.47 |
| Arizona | 74,540 | $17.51 | $14.90 | $19.55 |
| Arkansas | 19,840 | $13.30 | $11.51 | $15.23 |
| California | 970,150 | $16.50 | $16.50 | $18.87 |
| Colorado | 44,650 | $18.53 | $17.03 | $22.42 |
| Connecticut | 49,510 | $18.75 | $16.35 | $21.71 |
| Delaware | 11,820 | $16.50 | $15.00 | $19.44 |
| District of Columbia | 12,810 | $20.53 | $18.41 | $22.04 |
| Florida | 90,170 | $16.25 | $14.74 | $18.42 |
| Georgia | 50,870 | $14.07 | $11.40 | $19.09 |
| Hawaii | 6,150 | $18.32 | $15.00 | $21.98 |
| Idaho | 20,770 | $16.72 | $13.47 | $20.00 |
| Illinois | 134,100 | $18.30 | $16.44 | $20.43 |
| Indiana | 57,050 | $16.86 | $14.13 | $18.98 |
| Iowa | 25,800 | $17.34 | $14.63 | $21.87 |
| Kansas | 25,350 | $15.03 | $13.02 | $18.44 |
| Kentucky | 31,260 | $17.52 | $13.52 | $23.60 |
| Louisiana | 45,060 | $10.83 | $9.22 | $15.45 |
| Maine | 18,630 | $18.55 | $16.89 | $22.53 |
| Maryland | 46,560 | $18.29 | $15.16 | $22.54 |
| Massachusetts | 117,940 | $19.67 | $17.77 | $22.45 |
| Michigan | 95,020 | $16.83 | $13.40 | $20.57 |
| Minnesota | 128,680 | $18.45 | $15.87 | $22.43 |
| Mississippi | 21,800 | $11.47 | $10.52 | $14.24 |
| Missouri | 94,810 | $15.90 | $13.75 | $20.87 |
| Montana | 10,400 | $17.61 | $14.12 | $21.51 |
| Nebraska | 13,660 | $17.38 | $14.74 | $21.00 |
| Nevada | 17,940 | $16.19 | $12.69 | $17.59 |
| New Hampshire | 9,440 | $18.64 | $15.36 | $22.97 |
| New Jersey | 117,080 | $17.83 | $15.49 | $23.16 |
| New Mexico | 38,910 | $13.71 | $12.69 | $17.52 |
| New York | 663,140 | $19.05 | $17.77 | $22.45 |
| North Carolina | 58,880 | $15.02 | $11.87 | $18.60 |
| North Dakota | 7,730 | $18.96 | $17.41 | $23.65 |
| Ohio | 106,940 | $16.57 | $13.64 | $19.01 |
| Oklahoma | 20,310 | $13.32 | $11.03 | $16.90 |
| Oregon | 42,330 | $21.35 | $18.10 | $25.54 |
| Pennsylvania | 257,370 | $14.14 | $12.75 | $18.25 |
| Rhode Island | 7,490 | $21.00 | $15.32 | $22.45 |
| South Carolina | 40,750 | $14.48 | $11.35 | $17.11 |
| South Dakota | 4,210 | $18.15 | $15.62 | $22.75 |
| Tennessee | 35,950 | $15.45 | $13.50 | $18.34 |
| Texas | 329,590 | $11.65 | $10.57 | $15.17 |
| Utah | 17,130 | $17.25 | $14.78 | $21.76 |
| Vermont | 7,700 | $20.00 | $15.05 | $23.10 |
| Virginia | 70,070 | $14.57 | $12.97 | $19.55 |
| Washington | 103,260 | $22.95 | $19.29 | $26.43 |
| West Virginia | 18,890 | $13.47 | $10.78 | $15.67 |
| Wisconsin | 82,430 | $17.47 | $13.47 | $20.59 |
| Wyoming | 3,410 | $15.96 | $13.32 | $22.60 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates for SOC 31-1120, Home Health and Personal Care Aides. National: 4,305,810 jobs, median $17.21, 10th percentile $13.00, 90th percentile $21.65.
Where pay is highest and lowest
Five places have a median of $20 or more: Washington ($22.95), Oregon ($21.35), Rhode Island ($21.00), the District of Columbia ($20.53) and Vermont ($20.00). Massachusetts ($19.67), Alaska ($19.11) and New York ($19.05) follow (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Eight states have a median under $14: Louisiana ($10.83), Mississippi ($11.47), Texas ($11.65), Arkansas ($13.30), Oklahoma ($13.32), Alabama ($13.39), West Virginia ($13.47) and New Mexico ($13.71). Louisiana's 10th percentile of $9.22 is the only figure on the page below $10 (same source).
The jobs are concentrated. California has 970,150 aide jobs, New York 663,140, Texas 329,590, Pennsylvania 257,370 and Illinois 134,100; those five states hold more than half of the national 4,305,810 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In California the 10th percentile, 25th percentile and median are all $16.50, so at least half of the state's aides are reported at one rate.
Pay in 13 metros
A metro is wider than its city, and three of these cross state lines.
Scroll horizontally to view every column.
| Metro | Jobs | Median | 10th percentile | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 29,400 | $14.39 | $12.54 | $18.61 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 12,490 | $13.64 | $11.00 | $17.75 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 72,420 | $19.67 | $17.70 | $22.79 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 108,520 | $18.36 | $16.84 | $20.43 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 58,580 | $12.93 | $10.76 | $17.31 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 26,130 | $18.70 | $17.86 | $22.22 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 63,820 | $11.27 | $10.69 | $15.35 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 385,530 | $16.50 | $16.50 | $18.28 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 28,350 | $15.81 | $15.00 | $18.11 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 644,700 | $19.08 | $17.77 | $22.39 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 8,260 | $16.40 | $14.56 | $18.11 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 57,940 | $17.75 | $14.91 | $19.85 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 54,670 | $23.18 | $21.25 | $26.43 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, metropolitan area estimates for SOC 31-1120.
Houston's $11.27 is the lowest in the group; Seattle's $23.18 is the highest. The New York metro holds 644,700 aide jobs, more than any state except California and New York itself.
Why most of these jobs are open to beginners
In the first quarter of 2026, 91.3 percent of postings in personal care and home health were entry level, which Indeed defines as roles that focus on soft skills and ask for zero to one year of experience. That was the highest share of any occupation group in the study; software development was lowest at 4.5 percent (Indeed Hiring Lab, "The Labor Market Is Tilting Toward Seniority," July 23, 2026).
Demand explains it. BLS projects 18 percent growth for these jobs from 2025 to 2035, with about 760,500 openings a year (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, August 27, 2026). The training floor is low: personal care aides have no federal minimum, and home health aides at Medicare-certified agencies need 75 hours (42 CFR 484.80). Each title's rules are in HHA vs PCA vs CNA; how to apply with no experience is in caregiver jobs with no experience.
What moves an aide's pay up
- A nurse aide certificate. Nursing assistants earned a national median of $20.32 in May 2025, $3.11 above aides (BLS OEWS). Nursing homes may not charge employees for the class; see free CNA training.
- The state and the metro. The same job pays $11.27 in Houston and $23.18 in Seattle.
- A clinic role later. Medical assistants earned a national median of $21.97 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS); see medical assistant jobs without certification.
- Pay timing and context. Employers that state weekly pay are in jobs with weekly pay; aides against retail, warehouse and delivery work: pay benchmarks.
Current openings
See healthcare jobs nationwide, or by city: Boston, Houston, New York.
More healthcare openings
Current source-linked listings could not be confirmed in this sample. Check the category search and each original posting for availability.
How to verify a listing
Every opening on JobPin links to its source posting. Open it, check the date, and compare the stated pay with the state and metro medians above; a rate far above the 90th percentile for an entry-level aide job is a reason to read the fine print. No legitimate employer charges a fee to apply, and none hires by text message before you apply. Confirm the agency's name in your state's home care license lookup or your state nurse aide registry.
How JobPin dates and sources listings: How JobPin verifies listings and events. Report a listing.