Home Health and Personal Care Aides
SOC 31-1120 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Home Health and Personal Care Aides is $33,530, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $33,380, and an estimated 3,689,350 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +23.8% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +5.2% after inflation.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Home Health and Personal Care Aides has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $33,530 | $33,530 | 3,689,350 |
| 2022 | $30,180 | $31,422 | 3,504,230 |
| 2021 | $29,430 | $33,094 | 3,366,480 |
| 2020 | $27,080 | $31,882 | 3,211,590 |
Nominal change
+23.8%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+5.2%
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Home Health and Personal Care Aides earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $33,530. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $42,320 | +26.2% | 79,080 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $39,610 | +18.1% | 3,860 |
| East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $38,960 | +16.2% | 1,290 |
| Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $38,810 | +15.7% | 2,470 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $38,530 | +14.9% | 1,230 |
| Oregon | $38,480 | +14.8% | 33,060 |
| Rhode Island | $37,960 | +13.2% | 8,040 |
| Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $37,860 | +12.9% | 590 |
| Massachusetts | $37,450 | +11.7% | 113,730 |
| Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $37,450 | +11.7% | 2,310 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$23,910
25th Pct
$29,120
Median
$33,530
75th Pct
$36,550
90th Pct
$42,450
Related Occupations in Healthcare Support
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Healthcare Support occupations →