Home Health and Personal Care Aides
Home health and personal care aides monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with daily living activities.
Is home health and personal care aides a good career?
It scores 100/100 and ranks #1 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Faster-than-average projected growth (+17.0% through 2034)
- High volume of openings — about 765,800 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Pays below the U.S. median wage ($35,800 vs $61,390)
What home health and personal care aides earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. home health and personal care aides earn between $31,920 and $39,470 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live home health and personal care aides jobs
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow much faster than average through 2034.
Education
Home health and personal care aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, although some positions do not require a formal educational credential. Postsecondary nondegree award programs are available at community colleges and vocational schools.
Training
Home health and personal care aides may be trained in housekeeping tasks, such as cooking for clients who have special dietary needs. Aides may learn basic safety techniques, including how to respond in an emergency. If state certification is required, specific training may be needed.
Training may be completed on the job or through programs. Training typically includes learning about personal hygiene, reading and recording vital signs, infection control, and basic nutrition.
In addition, individual clients may have preferences that aides need time to learn.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Home health and personal care aides may need to meet requirements specific to the state in which they work. For example, some states require home health aides to have a license or certification, which may involve completing training and passing a background check and a competency exam.
Certified home health or hospice agencies that receive payments from federally funded programs, such as Medicare, must comply with regulations regarding aides’ employment. Private care agencies that do not receive federal funds may have other employment requirements that vary by state.
Aides also may be required to obtain certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Important qualities
Detail oriented. Home health and personal care aides must adhere to specific rules and protocols to help care for clients. They must carefully follow instructions, such as how to care for wounds, that they receive from other healthcare workers.
Emotional skills. Home health and personal care aides must be sensitive to clients’ needs, especially while in extreme pain or distress. Aides must be compassionate and enjoy helping people.
Integrity. Home health and personal care aides must be dependable and trustworthy so that clients and their families can rely on them. They also should be respectful when tending to personal activities, such as helping clients bathe.
Interpersonal skills. Home health and personal care aides must be able to communicate with clients and other healthcare workers. They need to listen closely to what they are being told and convey information clearly.
Physical stamina. Home health and personal care aides should be comfortable doing physical tasks. They might need to be on their feet for many hours or do strenuous tasks, such as lifting or turning clients.
Related occupations
How much do home health and personal care aides make?
The national median wage is $35,800 a year, with the middle half earning between $31,920 and $39,470 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is home health and personal care aides a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 100 of 100 and ranks #1 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +17.0% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a home health and personal care aide?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do home health and personal care aides earn the most?
Among states, Washington pays the highest median ($47,730). Local pay for every state and metro is below.