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Personal Care Aides Salary in the United States

How much does a Personal Care Aides make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Personal Care Aides in the United States is $39,330 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, a Personal Care Aides's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,086
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,964 to $42,866
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,899
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Personal Care Aides Salaries

A Personal Care Aides'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 Personal Care Aides Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Personal Care Aides'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $36,896
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $33,292
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,031
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,681
  • Expert (over 8 years): $44,736
Levels Salary
Behaviora... Level Personal Care Aides$36,896
Home Care... Level Personal Care Aides$33,292
Personal ... Level Personal Care Aides$40,031
Home Care... Level Personal Care Aides$44,681
Home Care... Level Personal Care Aides$44,736
View as Graph

How Do Personal Care Aides 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 Personal Care Aides. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $43,546.
  • California: $43,381.
  • Massachusetts: $42,803.

Top Paying Cities for Personal Care Aides

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: $49,607
  • San Francisco: $49,064
  • Oakland: $48,030

What Skills Can Increase a Personal Care Aides's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.96% 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.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 5.76% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 3.03% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.96%
CPR 5.76%
First Aid 3.03%
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 Personal Care Aides's salary.

  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination $45,623
16%
Collaboration $44,836
14%
Accountability $44,443
13%
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Personal Care Aides Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Personal Care Aides 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, Personal Care Aides positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Personal Care Aides as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Personal Care Aides

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$47,196$23.020%

How Education impacts a Personal Care Aides's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Personal Care Aides enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Personal Care Aides with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $33,262 and $35,106).

Personal Care Aides Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Personal Care Aides
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 48.0%
Associates 20.0%
Bachelors 20.0%
Masters 8.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Personal Care Aides Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Personal Care Aides'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 September 01, 2026
$35,964
Average $39,330/year
$42,866
$2,997
Average $3,278/month
$3,572
$692
Average $756/week
$824
$17
Average $19/hour
$21
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $42,866 $3,572 $824 $21
Average $39,330 $3,278 $756 $19
25th Percentile $35,964 $2,997 $692 $17

Most common benefits for Personal Care Aides

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

Common company salaries for Personal Care Aides

Here are companies hiring for Personal Care Aides and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Personal Care Aides

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Personal Care Aides?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Personal Care Aides roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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