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PCA Personal Care Aide Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a PCA Personal Care Aide in the United States is $32,050 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $35,478
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $29,158 to $33,844
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,525
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence PCA Personal Care Aide Salaries

A PCA Personal Care Aide'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 PCA Personal Care Aide Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a PCA Personal Care Aide'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): $35,373
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $31,918
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $38,379
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,836
  • Expert (over 8 years): $42,889
Levels Salary
Behaviora... Level PCA Personal Care Aide$35,373
PCA Perso... Level PCA Personal Care Aide$31,918
Home Care... Level PCA Personal Care Aide$38,379
Home Care... Level PCA Personal Care Aide$42,836
Home Care... Level PCA Personal Care Aide$42,889
View as Graph

How Do PCA Personal Care Aide 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 PCA Personal Care Aides. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $35,486.
  • California: $35,351.
  • Massachusetts: $34,880.

Top Paying Cities for PCA 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: $40,425
  • San Francisco: $39,982
  • Oakland: $39,139

What Skills Can Increase a PCA Personal Care Aide'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 PCA Personal Care Aide'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 $36,216
13%
Decision Making $36,216
13%
Medication Administration $35,896
12%
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PCA Personal Care Aide Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For PCA Personal Care Aide 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, PCA Personal Care Aide positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view PCA Personal Care Aide as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a PCA Personal Care Aide

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$38,460$18.020%

How Education impacts a PCA Personal Care Aide's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many PCA 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 PCA Personal Care Aide with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $27,577 and $28,761).

PCA Personal Care Aide Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for PCA Personal Care Aide
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

PCA Personal Care Aide Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a PCA Personal Care Aide'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
$29,158
Average $32,050/year
$33,844
$2,430
Average $2,671/month
$2,820
$561
Average $616/week
$651
$14
Average $15/hour
$16
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $33,844 $2,820 $651 $16
Average $32,050 $2,671 $616 $15
25th Percentile $29,158 $2,430 $561 $14

Most common benefits for PCA Personal Care Aide

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

Common company salaries for PCA Personal Care Aide

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

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FAQ about PCA Personal Care Aide

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for PCA Personal Care Aide 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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