Workforce
Caregiver Pay Rates by State: How to Set a Competitive Wage
Caregivers earned a median $17.21/hour in May 2025 (BLS), from $10.83 in Louisiana to $22.95 in Washington. How to set a wage that hires and still fits your bill rate.
How much do caregivers make in each state?
Home health and personal care aides earned a mean of $17.36 an hour nationally in May 2025. Pick a state to see its wage range and the largest metro areas.
Last reviewed October 17, 2026
| State | Mean hourly | Median | 10th–90th percentile | Aides employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $13.81 | $13.39 | $10.81 – $17.26 | 20,930 |
| Alaska | $19.45 | $19.11 | $14.77 – $22.47 | 6,530 |
| Arizona | $17.52 | $17.51 | $14.90 – $19.55 | 74,540 |
| Arkansas | $13.51 | $13.30 | $11.51 – $15.23 | 19,840 |
| California | $17.51 | $16.50 | $16.50 – $18.87 | 970,150 |
| Colorado | $19.34 | $18.53 | $17.03 – $22.42 | 44,650 |
| Connecticut | $19.37 | $18.75 | $16.35 – $21.71 | 49,510 |
| Delaware | $16.97 | $16.50 | $15.00 – $19.44 | 11,820 |
| District of Columbia | $20.45 | $20.53 | $18.41 – $22.04 | 12,810 |
| Florida | $16.63 | $16.25 | $14.74 – $18.42 | 90,170 |
| Georgia | $14.93 | $14.07 | $11.40 – $19.09 | 50,870 |
| Hawaii | $18.83 | $18.32 | $15.00 – $21.98 | 6,150 |
| Idaho | $16.45 | $16.72 | $13.47 – $20.00 | 20,770 |
| Illinois | $18.37 | $18.30 | $16.44 – $20.43 | 134,100 |
| Indiana | $16.68 | $16.86 | $14.13 – $18.98 | 57,050 |
| Iowa | $17.76 | $17.34 | $14.63 – $21.87 | 25,800 |
| Kansas | $15.56 | $15.03 | $13.02 – $18.44 | 25,350 |
| Kentucky | $18.53 | $17.52 | $13.52 – $23.60 | 31,260 |
| Louisiana | $11.75 | $10.83 | $9.22 – $15.45 | 45,060 |
| Maine | $19.29 | $18.55 | $16.89 – $22.53 | 18,630 |
| Maryland | $18.99 | $18.29 | $15.16 – $22.54 | 46,560 |
| Massachusetts | $20.23 | $19.67 | $17.77 – $22.45 | 117,940 |
| Michigan | $16.77 | $16.83 | $13.40 – $20.57 | 95,020 |
| Minnesota | $19.13 | $18.45 | $15.87 – $22.43 | 128,680 |
| Mississippi | $12.20 | $11.47 | $10.52 – $14.24 | 21,800 |
| Missouri | $16.36 | $15.90 | $13.75 – $20.87 | 94,810 |
| Montana | $17.68 | $17.61 | $14.12 – $21.51 | 10,400 |
| Nebraska | $17.74 | $17.38 | $14.74 – $21.00 | 13,660 |
| Nevada | $15.62 | $16.19 | $12.69 – $17.59 | 17,940 |
| New Hampshire | $19.31 | $18.64 | $15.36 – $22.97 | 9,440 |
| New Jersey | $19.08 | $17.83 | $15.49 – $23.16 | 117,080 |
| New Mexico | $14.48 | $13.71 | $12.69 – $17.52 | 38,910 |
| New York | $19.78 | $19.05 | $17.77 – $22.45 | 663,140 |
| North Carolina | $15.54 | $15.02 | $11.87 – $18.60 | 58,880 |
| North Dakota | $19.95 | $18.96 | $17.41 – $23.65 | 7,730 |
| Ohio | $16.44 | $16.57 | $13.64 – $19.01 | 106,940 |
| Oklahoma | $13.75 | $13.32 | $11.03 – $16.90 | 20,310 |
| Oregon | $21.46 | $21.35 | $18.10 – $25.54 | 42,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $15.12 | $14.14 | $12.75 – $18.25 | 257,370 |
| Rhode Island | $20.35 | $21.00 | $15.32 – $22.45 | 7,490 |
| South Carolina | $14.65 | $14.48 | $11.35 – $17.11 | 40,750 |
| South Dakota | $18.88 | $18.15 | $15.62 – $22.75 | 4,210 |
| Tennessee | $15.90 | $15.45 | $13.50 – $18.34 | 35,950 |
| Texas | $12.54 | $11.65 | $10.57 – $15.17 | 329,590 |
| Utah | $17.72 | $17.25 | $14.78 – $21.76 | 17,130 |
| Vermont | $19.86 | $20.00 | $15.05 – $23.10 | 7,700 |
| Virginia | $15.69 | $14.57 | $12.97 – $19.55 | 70,070 |
| Washington | $23.18 | $22.95 | $19.29 – $26.43 | 103,260 |
| West Virginia | $13.35 | $13.47 | $10.78 – $15.67 | 18,890 |
| Wisconsin | $17.01 | $17.47 | $13.47 – $20.59 | 82,430 |
| Wyoming | $17.22 | $15.96 | $13.32 – $22.60 | 3,410 |
Where do these numbers come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates for occupation 31-1120, home health and personal care aides. This is the occupation that covers most non-medical caregivers. Figures are hourly wages before overtime and differentials.
How Caregiver Scheduling handles this
Timesheets from verified visits and QuickBooks export are coming soon, so whatever wage you set will be paid on the hours caregivers actually worked, with overtime flagged before payroll. See what’s coming for timesheets and payroll.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Home health and personal care aides earned a mean of $17.36 and a median of $17.21 an hour in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 4,305,810 people worked in the occupation.
Washington, with a mean of $23.18 an hour. Louisiana has the lowest mean, at $11.75.
BLS OEWS surveys employers, so it covers aides employed by agencies, facilities and other businesses. Caregivers paid directly by families, and many paid through self-directed Medicaid programs, are not fully counted.
Use your state and metro mean as the market rate you compete with for applicants. Paying near the 90th percentile in your area is one of the clearest ways to hire faster and keep caregivers longer. Then price it into your bill rate.
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