What are the main factors that influence a PCA's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change a PCA's salary?

A PCA's salary grows with experience: starting around $38,235 for beginners, reaching about $39,531 at mid-level, and approach $41,225 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a PCA?

PCA salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for PCA roles are District of Columbia $43,769, California $43,603, Massachusetts $43,022. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of PCA roles make?

Salaries for PCA level roles vary by specialization: PCA Float Pool: $83,021; PCA II: $82,378; RN SCO PCA Supervisor: $59,777; HHA PCA Immediate Needs: $39,500; Pca Personal Care Assistant: $38,637.

How do different companies affect a PCA's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for PCA roles. Large, established industry leaders like New York Police Department ($97,099) and State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority ($95,962) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $75,106.

PCA Salary in the United States

How much does a PCA make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a PCA in the United States is $39,531 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,865
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,438 to $43,370
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,621

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PCA Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,370	$3,614	$834	$21
Average	$39,531	$3,294	$760	$19
25th Percentile	$36,438	$3,036	$701	$18

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Key Factors That Influence PCA Salaries

A PCA'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 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a PCA'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): $38,235
Early Career (1-2 years): $38,327
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,531
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,112
Expert (over 8 years): $41,225

Levels	Salary
Entry Level PCA	$38,235
Intermediate Level PCA	$38,327
Senior Level PCA	$39,531
Specialist Level PCA	$41,112
Expert Level PCA	$41,225

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What Am I Worth?

How Do PCA 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 PCAs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $43,769.
California: $43,603.
Massachusetts: $43,022.

District of Columbia $43,769 California $43,603 Massachusetts $43,022 Washington $42,864 New Jersey $42,848 Alaska $42,792 Connecticut $42,247 New York $42,026

Hawaii $41,318 Rhode Island $40,986 Maryland $40,761 Minnesota $40,452 Colorado $40,334 Illinois $40,294 Oregon $40,144 Delaware $40,033

New Hampshire $39,964 Virginia $39,808 Pennsylvania $39,353 Nevada $39,124 North Dakota $39,049 Michigan $38,930 Wisconsin $38,887 Vermont $38,800

Texas $38,559 Maine $38,543 Arizona $38,519 Ohio $38,491 Georgia $38,128 Indiana $37,946 Wyoming $37,910 Utah $37,855

Iowa $37,831 Kansas $37,642 Louisiana $37,586 North Carolina $37,566 Missouri $37,558 Florida $37,404 Montana $37,321 Nebraska $37,242

Kentucky $37,199 South Carolina $37,041 Tennessee $36,942 Idaho $36,902 New Mexico $36,614 Oklahoma $36,550 Alabama $36,317 South Dakota $35,926

Arkansas $35,712 West Virginia $35,598 Mississippi $35,254

Top Paying Cities for PCAs

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: $49,861
San Francisco: $49,370
Oakland: $48,275

San Jose, CA $49,861

San Francisco, CA $49,370

Oakland, CA $48,275

New York, NY $45,813

Queens Village, NY $45,516

Paramus, NJ $45,200

Passaic, NJ $45,160

Bergenfield, NJ $45,121

Stamford, CT $45,062

Huntington, NY $45,022

Newark, NJ $44,765

Bridgeport, CT $44,686

New Brunswick, NJ $44,556

Vallejo, CA $44,472

Middlesex, NJ $44,449

Somerset, NJ $44,413

Petaluma, CA $44,322

Santa Cruz, CA $44,168

Boston, MA $44,089

Monterey, CA $43,891

Fairbanks, AK $43,864

Los Angeles, CA $43,789

Washington, DC $43,769

Seattle, WA $43,698

Santa Rosa, CA $43,690

Juneau, AK $43,575

Orange, CA $43,445

Anchorage, AK $43,374

Anaheim, CA $43,346

Santa Ana, CA $43,287

Nassau, NY $43,263

Long Beach, CA $43,247

Danbury, CT $43,235

Santa Maria, CA $43,101

Everett, WA $43,093

Bremerton, WA $42,899

Trenton, NJ $42,824

Sacramento, CA $42,808

San Diego, CA $42,788

Brockton, MA $42,773

Tacoma, WA $42,757

Santa Barbara, CA $42,701

Lowell, MA $42,543

New Suffolk, NY $42,528

Nashua, NH $42,480

Lompoc, CA $42,417

Ventura, CA $42,377

Stockton, CA $42,365

New Haven, CT $42,286

Atlantic City, NJ $42,184

Hartford, CT $42,097

Modesto, CA $42,077

Poughkeepsie, NY $41,990

New Britain, CT $41,970

Olympia, WA $41,915

Kennewick, WA $41,915

New London, CT $41,907

Norwich, CT $41,895

Lawrence, MA $41,875

Bakersfield, CA $41,765

Riverside, CA $41,709

New Bedford, MA $41,709

Richland, WA $41,670

Portsmouth, NH $41,638

Vineland, NJ $41,630

San Bernardino, CA $41,599

Boulder, CO $41,488

Worcester, MA $41,456

Portland, OR $41,421

Saint Paul, MN $41,373

Minneapolis, MN $41,373

Philadelphia, PA $41,318

Honolulu, HI $41,108

Springfield, MA $40,970

Providence, RI $40,966

Chicago, IL $40,851

Bellingham, WA $40,804

Baltimore, MD $40,761

Chico, CA $40,662

Wilmington, DE $40,594

Pittsfield, MA $40,555

Manchester, NH $40,480

Spokane, WA $40,306

Denver, CO $40,302

Albany, NY $40,116

Troy, NY $40,100

Schenectady, NY $40,017

Burlington, VT $39,930

Portland, ME $39,792

Salem, OR $39,760

Yakima, WA $39,752

Ann Arbor, MI $39,741

Rochester, MN $39,630

Fresno, CA $39,610

Reno, NV $39,610

Milwaukee, WI $39,575

Detroit, MI $39,535

Allentown, PA $39,523

Carson City, NV $39,519

Houston, TX $39,460

Colorado Springs, CO $39,456

Syracuse, NY $39,436

Eugene, OR $39,361

Bismarck, ND $39,314

Gary, IN $39,314

Galveston, TX $39,314

Springfield, OR $39,282

Medford, OR $39,187

Fort Collins, CO $39,171

Austin, TX $39,140

Mesa, AZ $39,057

Phoenix, AZ $39,049

Dallas, TX $39,037

Reading, PA $39,013

Saint Cloud, MN $38,997

Concord, NH $38,962

Madison, WI $38,946

Utica, NY $38,839

Raleigh, NC $38,808

Las Vegas, NV $38,804

Rochester, NY $38,776

Des Moines, IA $38,772

Atlanta, GA $38,709

Battle Creek, MI $38,697

Salt Lake City, UT $38,685

Lancaster, PA $38,626

Champaign, IL $38,618

Harrisburg, PA $38,570

Durham, NC $38,535

Kansas City, MO $38,531

Kansas City, KS $38,523

Fort Worth, TX $38,519

Boca Raton, FL $38,503

Cleveland, OH $38,499

Columbus, OH $38,491

Pittsburgh, PA $38,487

Richmond, VA $38,472

Indianapolis, IN $38,464

Cincinnati, OH $38,412

Petersburg, VA $38,353

Billings, MT $38,266

Lansing, MI $38,266

Huntsville, AL $38,266

Lebanon, PA $38,262

Dayton, OH $38,258

Pueblo, CO $38,258

Appleton, WI $38,246

Buffalo, NY $38,231

Racine, WI $38,211

Charlotte, NC $38,207

Saint Louis, MO $38,195

Springfield, IL $38,179

Elkhart, IN $38,171

York, PA $38,171

Gastonia, NC $38,167

Benton Harbor, MI $38,167

Beaumont, TX $38,144

Lorain, OH $38,136

Toledo, OH $38,120

Binghamton, NY $38,100

Rock Hill, SC $38,096

Rockford, IL $38,076

Fargo, ND $38,057

Elyria, OH $38,057

Flagstaff, AZ $38,029

Fort Lauderdale, FL $38,005

Miami, FL $37,981

Duluth, MN $37,918

Bangor, ME $37,867

Cedar Rapids, IA $37,823

Louisville, KY $37,804

Grand Rapids, MI $37,796

Hialeah, FL $37,792

Casper, WY $37,736

Scranton, PA $37,689

New Orleans, LA $37,677

Virginia Beach, VA $37,673

Akron, OH $37,653

Peoria, IL $37,602

Sarasota, FL $37,594

Green Bay, WI $37,566

Baton Rouge, LA $37,547

Charleston, SC $37,539

Nashville, TN $37,527

Jamestown, NY $37,519

Davenport, IA $37,519

Tucson, AZ $37,499

Cheyenne, WY $37,487

Saint Petersburg, FL $37,475

Tampa, FL $37,468

Omaha, NE $37,460

Port Arthur, TX $37,444

Evansville, IN $37,444

Bradenton, FL $37,428

Santa Fe, NM $37,357

Orlando, FL $37,317

Clearwater, FL $37,274

Canton, OH $37,191

La Crosse, WI $37,191

Grand Forks, ND $37,179

Albuquerque, NM $37,167

Tulsa, OK $37,167

Newport News, VA $37,163

High Point, NC $37,151

Ogden, UT $37,136

Corpus Christi, TX $37,104

Laramie, WY $37,080

Norfolk, VA $37,080

Rock Island, IL $37,056

Saginaw, MI $37,049

Jacksonville, FL $37,045

Salisbury, NC $37,037

Memphis, TN $37,029

Moline, IL $37,009

Fort Myers, FL $36,997

Waterloo, IA $36,946

Spartanburg, SC $36,906

Lincoln, NE $36,886

Fort Wayne, IN $36,879

Birmingham, AL $36,835

Cedar Falls, IA $36,827

Provo, UT $36,823

Springfield, OH $36,819

San Antonio, TX $36,811

Greensboro, NC $36,796

South Bend, IN $36,792

Winston Salem, NC $36,788

Boise, ID $36,776

Savannah, GA $36,748

Muskegon, MI $36,677

Lima, OH $36,630

Lake Charles, LA $36,614

Anderson, IN $36,606

Lexington, KY $36,594

Augusta, GA $36,582

Greenville, SC $36,582

Wichita, KS $36,547

Tuscaloosa, AL $36,547

Columbia, SC $36,511

Bloomington, IN $36,412

Roanoke, VA $36,388

Asheville, NC $36,337

Knoxville, TN $36,270

Shreveport, LA $36,266

Wilmington, NC $36,214

Frankfort, KY $36,139

Oklahoma City, OK $36,112

Chillicothe, OH $36,096

Longview, TX $36,092

Topeka, KS $36,080

Mobile, AL $36,021

Terre Haute, IN $36,005

Erie, PA $36,001

Altoona, PA $35,981

Melbourne, FL $35,969

Amarillo, TX $35,954

Killeen, TX $35,942

Fayetteville, AR $35,910

Sioux Falls, SD $35,882

Chattanooga, TN $35,859

Idaho Falls, ID $35,855

Gainesville, FL $35,772

Portsmouth, OH $35,752

Little Rock, AR $35,744

Lynchburg, VA $35,744

Lafayette, LA $35,728

Youngstown, OH $35,728

Temple, TX $35,712

Daytona Beach, FL $35,704

Clarksville, TN $35,701

Pensacola, FL $35,697

Hopkinsville, KY $35,578

Charleston, WV $35,574

Florence, SC $35,554

Sioux City, IA $35,531

Macon, GA $35,416

Tallahassee, FL $35,412

Fayetteville, NC $35,404

Waco, TX $35,396

Wichita Falls, TX $35,396

Pine Bluff, AR $35,380

Vincennes, IN $35,305

Lubbock, TX $35,289

Great Falls, MT $35,266

Alamogordo, NM $35,262

Abilene, TX $35,230

Rapid City, SD $35,179

Monroe, LA $35,179

Albany, GA $35,155

Huntington, WV $35,151

Jackson, MS $35,147

Greenville, MS $35,143

Parkersburg, WV $35,104

Montgomery, AL $35,096

Johnstown, PA $35,088

Springfield, MO $35,056

Biloxi, MS $35,036

Sumter, SC $34,953

Columbus, GA $34,949

Twin Falls, ID $34,926

Pascagoula, MS $34,874

Kingsport, TN $34,772

Gulfport, MS $34,760

Alexandria, LA $34,629

Fort Smith, AR $34,530

El Paso, TX $34,424

Helena, MT $34,372

Las Cruces, NM $34,246

Harlingen, TX $34,135

Pocatello, ID $34,100

Florence, AL $34,088

Brownsville, TX $34,080

Dothan, AL $34,017

Mcallen, TX $33,997

Columbus, MS $33,704

Altus, OK $33,522

Lawton, OK $33,447

Pierre, SD $33,305

What Skills Can Increase a PCA'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.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Commitment	3.96%
CPR	5.76%
First Aid	3.03%

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'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	$45,856	16%
Collaboration	$45,065	14%
Accountability	$44,670	13%
Care Management	$44,670	13%
Problem Solving	$43,089	9%
Written Communication	$42,694	8%

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How Education impacts a PCA's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many PCAs 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 with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $33,262 and $35,106).

PCA Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for PCA

No Diploma 4.0%

High School 48.0%

Associates 20.0%

Bachelors 20.0%

Masters 8.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

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

PCA Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a PCA'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 January 01, 2026

$36,438

Average $39,531/year

$43,370

$3,036

Average $3,294/month

$3,614

$701

Average $760/week

$834

$18

Average $19/hour

$21

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,370	$3,614	$834	$21
Average	$39,531	$3,294	$760	$19
25th Percentile	$36,438	$3,036	$701	$18

Salaries of jobs related to PCA

Salary Trends for PCA

Salaries for a PCA can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $32,321 in 2023 to around $31,928 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of PCA salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of PCA Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$32,321

2024

$32,169

2025

$31,928

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$32,321
2024	$32,169
2025	$31,928
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for PCA

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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.)

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