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Hourly Wage for Home Care Aide I Salary in the United States

How much does a Home Care Aide I make hourly?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Home Care Aide I in the United States is $16, which translates to an annual salary of about $32,570.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $17 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $14 to $17 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $13 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Home Care Aide I Salaries

A Home Care Aide I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Home Care Aide I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Home Care Aide I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Behavioral Home Care Aide (0-0 years): $36,095
  • Home Care Aide I (0-1 years): $32,570
  • Home Care Aide II (1-3 years): $39,157
  • Home Care Aide III (3-5 years): $43,703
  • Home Care Aide Coordinator (5+ years): $43,759
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Behavioral Home Care Aide0-0 years$36,095
Home Care Aide I0-1 years$32,570
Home Care Aide II1-3 years$39,157
Home Care Aide III3-5 years$43,703
Home Care Aide Coordinator5+ years$43,759
View as Graph

How Do Home Care Aide Is Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Home Care Aide Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $36,062.
  • California: $35,925.
  • Massachusetts: $35,446.

Top Paying Cities for Home Care Aide I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $41,081
  • San Francisco: $40,631
  • Oakland: $39,774

What Skills Can Increase a Home Care Aide I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 4.25% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Housekeeping (Mentioned in 5.85% Job Postings): Housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds.
  • Assisted Living (Mentioned in 3.07% Job Postings): Assisted living exemplifies the shift from "care as service" to "care as business" in the broader health care arena predicted more than three decades ago. A consumer-driven industry, assisted living offers a wide range of options, levels of care, and diversity of services (Lockhart, 2009) and is subject to state rather than federal regulatory oversight. "Assisted living" means depends on both the state and provider in question: variations in state regulatory definitions are significant and provider variables include everything from philosophy, geographic location and auspice, to organizational size and structure.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 4.25%
Housekeeping 5.85%
Assisted Living 3.07%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Home Care Aide I's salary.

  • Budgeting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Medication Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Budgeting $36,804
13%
Decision Making $36,804
13%
Medication Administration $36,478
12%
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Home Care Aide I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Home Care Aide I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $34,548. While startup companies pay approximate $29,440.

Home Care Aide I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $29,440
Growth Stage 51~500 $31,077
Established 501~5000 $33,418
Enterprise 5000+ $34,548

Home Care Aide I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Home Care Aide I roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Home Care Aide positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Home Care Aide I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Home Care Aide I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$39,084$19.020%

How Education impacts an Home Care Aide I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Home Care Aide I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Home Care Aide I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $28,154 and $29,395.

Home Care Aide I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Home Care Aide I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.2%
High School 68.1%
Associates 11.6%
Bachelors 15.2%
Masters 2.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Home Care Aide I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Home Care Aide I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$29,477
Average $32,570/year
$34,375
$2,456
Average $2,714/month
$2,865
$567
Average $626/week
$661
$14
Average $16/hour
$17
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $34,375 $2,865 $661 $17
Average $32,570 $2,714 $626 $16
25th Percentile $29,477 $2,456 $567 $14

Most common benefits for Home Care Aide I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Home Care Aide I

Here are companies hiring for Home Care Aide I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Home Care Aide I

1. What are the responsibilities of Home Care Aide I?

Provides household management activities to enable patients in independence at home. Assists patient with self-administered medications and emotional supports. Typically requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or a manager. May require CPR certified. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

2. What are the skills of Home Care Aide I

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Commitment: An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.

2.)

Housekeeping: Housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds.

3.)

Assisted Living: Assisted living exemplifies the shift from "care as service" to "care as business" in the broader health care arena predicted more than three decades ago. A consumer-driven industry, assisted living offers a wide range of options, levels of care, and diversity of services (Lockhart, 2009) and is subject to state rather than federal regulatory oversight. "Assisted living" means depends on both the state and provider in question: variations in state regulatory definitions are significant and provider variables include everything from philosophy, geographic location and auspice, to organizational size and structure.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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