Maximize Your Earnings as a Home Health Aide
How much does a HHA make?
Well, the short answer is: it depends.
The longer answer: there are many variables and where you work as a home health aide (HHA) is the biggest factor; the employer and work experience are driving factors as well.
There isn’t a standard home health aide salary for all HHA’s across every state and region; some states have a higher cost of living which means they may offer more for HHA pay.
And even better:
Salaries for all caregivers also depends on the type of services provided for your clients with different levels of needs or requirements. For example, home health agencies would pay more for a HHA that has a great deal of experience with cardiac related health issues.
Luckily, those skills needed to become a HHA are not hard to learn at all.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2022, there were approximately 3,504,230 Home Health and Personal Care Aides employed in the United States.
On average, they earn an hourly wage of $14.87, which amounts to an annual wage of $30,930. See more about salaries for a home health aide.
| Industry | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $26.89 | $55,940 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $19.78 | $41,150 |
| State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $19.56 | $40,680 |
| Educational Support Services | $19.30 | $40,150 |
| Other Investment Pools and Funds | $18.27 | $38,000 |
Over the past decade, home care workers have seen a very modest increase in their median hourly wages. Wages grew from $12.26 in 2012 to $14.50 in 2022. This recent rise in wages was significantly influenced by temporary funding measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as these measures have phased out, there’s a noticeable slowdown in wage growth. In fact, the inflation-adjusted median hourly wages for home care workers decreased from $15.22 in 2021 to $14.50 in 2022, indicating a potential reversal in the trend.
For most health aides, the location will not necessarily dictate where they work.
If, for example, the home health aide salary in Florida is $28,280 – would you move to Alaska because you can make more (average salary of $36,570)?
Probably not…moving to a new location to make more money as a HHA may not make a great deal of sense.
Click a state below to get more information about HHA training, requirements and job opportunities.
| State | Employed | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 20,210 | $11.22 | $23,330 |
| Alaska | 6,310 | $17.58 | $36,570 |
| Arizona | 63,390 | $15.03 | $31,260 |
| Arkansas | 18,390 | $12.83 | $26,680 |
| California | 773,350 | $15.75 | $32,760 |
| Colorado | 35,910 | $16.69 | $34,710 |
| Connecticut | 41,230 | $16.98 | $35,330 |
| Delaware | 9,030 | $13.40 | $27,870 |
| District of Columbia | 11,030 | $16.76 | $34,870 |
| Florida | 69,050 | $13.59 | $28,280 |
| Georgia | 34,650 | $12.53 | $26,060 |
| Hawaii | 6,770 | $15.71 | $32,690 |
| Idaho | 18,320 | $13.35 | $27,770 |
| Illinois | 101,430 | $15.52 | $32,280 |
| Indiana | 39,600 | $13.68 | $28,450 |
| Iowa | 23,010 | $15.43 | $32,090 |
| Kansas | 25,940 | $12.38 | $25,750 |
| Kentucky | 23,170 | $14.49 | $30,150 |
| Louisiana | 34,870 | $10.15 | $21,110 |
| Maine | 16,050 | $16.26 | $33,820 |
| Maryland | 24,960 | $15.67 | $32,590 |
| Massachusetts | 106,190 | $17.06 | $35,480 |
| Michigan | 82,230 | $13.91 | $28,930 |
| Minnesota | 106,640 | $15.53 | $32,310 |
| Mississippi | 16,230 | $11.13 | $23,150 |
| Missouri | 79,840 | $13.17 | $27,390 |
| Montana | 8,300 | $14.32 | $29,780 |
| Nebraska | 9,730 | $14.46 | $30,070 |
| Nevada | 14,290 | $16.08 | $33,450 |
| New Hampshire | 7,850 | $15.56 | $32,360 |
| New Jersey | 89,210 | $16.11 | $33,520 |
| New Mexico | 35,740 | $12.84 | $26,700 |
| New York | 504,160 | $17.11 | $35,590 |
| North Carolina | 58,800 | $12.51 | $26,020 |
| North Dakota | 6,630 | $17.26 | $35,910 |
| Ohio | 91,180 | $13.42 | $27,910 |
| Oklahoma | 16,710 | $11.86 | $24,680 |
| Oregon | 32,170 | $17.18 | $35,740 |
| Pennsylvania | 193,930 | $13.82 | $28,750 |
| Rhode Island | 7,570 | $16.81 | $34,960 |
| South Carolina | 29,210 | $12.37 | $25,730 |
| South Dakota | 3,830 | $15.20 | $31,610 |
| Tennessee | 27,660 | $12.93 | $26,900 |
| Texas | 306,320 | $10.98 | $22,830 |
| Utah | 13,210 | $15.82 | $32,910 |
| Vermont | 6,930 | $15.49 | $32,210 |
| Virginia | 58,670 | $13.06 | $27,160 |
| Washington | 97,730 | $18.22 | $37,900 |
| West Virginia | 17,190 | $11.78 | $24,510 |
| Wisconsin | 76,260 | $14.09 | $29,310 |
| Wyoming | 3,140 | $15.78 | $32,820 |
The Best Part?
The best part about being a home health aide is that they can get more certifications to help them specialize in certain areas and earn higher pay.
For example, if you’re an expert on caring for elderly people with cardiac issues, home health agencies that pay good would be seeking you out. These caregivers are sought-after by those who have loved ones suffering from heart disease or other chronic conditions.
For those who love their job as a certified home health aide, there is ample work to be had and the profession can also function as a great launching pad for other types of clinician positions. For example, you could get more training and become either an occupational therapist, physical therapist or EKG technician among many others.
A good number of people also take their HHA skills and become medical coders – even working from home, which is very helpful considering many folks have a desire to work at home.
There are many opportunities for workers in the home health care industry, as Baby Boomers grow older and more people want to retire at home. Home agencies get calls every week from individuals who need help with their certification process so they can become a certified aide themselves!
P.S. How often you get paid may be a factor as well in your job as a HHA; many prefer to get paid weekly – though it’s not always up to you…
Do you want to make more money?
Become a HHA today and start making more money. All it takes is one click. We have helped over 10,000 people just like you pass their competency exam with flying colors! And we guarantee success or your money back.