Home Health Aide (HHA) is an increasingly popular occupation. There is high demand for personal care and home care services as the Baby Boomer generation continues to age.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Home Health Aide in the U.S. earns about $13 an hour or $27,000 annually.
Home Health Aides can provide services in intensive healthcare facilities, individual homes, or group homes.
The salary varies based on your geographic location and particular employer.
As you consider HHA an occupation, it's essential to understand your earning potential.
Let's explore more about the field and how much Home Health Aides make in the U.S.
Recommended Reading - What is a Home Health Aide (HHA)?
A note about our data. We use the median of the data gathered from The BLS at data.bls.gov and other salary data sources such as Salary.com, Indeed.com and Zippia.com. We believe that this is the best average to follow, rather than the mean or mode. The mean will find the average of all salaries in each state; the mode will favor the most frequently reported salaries. However, the median will find the middle. All data in this report will favor the middle salary from all ranges, which means 50% will fall below and 50% will be above the salary data reported below. On another note, we have removed data from Puerto Rico, Guam, and The Virgin Islands from the data we have sourced as we have focused on the 50 US States plus The District Of Colombia.
HHA Salaries in the United States
Home Health Aides often work with patients with significant physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, and elders who prefer home care.
Your specific salary depends on various factors such as your experience level, location, additional skills you possess, education level, and certifications.
Home Health Aides earn the highest annual salary in Washington and Massachusetts at $36,300.00.
Alaska follows closely at $36,060.00 and the District of Columbia at $31,280.00. In North Dakota, the pay is $30,410.00 and $30,300.00 in New York.
The salary in these states is higher than the national average. Washington and Massachusetts have the highest difference at 34%, and Alaska follows at 33%.
How Much Does an HHA Make a Year?
The average annual salary for HHAs varies depending on the particular state. States with a high cost of living can support better wages for Home Health Aides. They also have a higher demand for HHA services due to various factors.
The national average hourly rate for HHAs is $27,120.78. The lowest 10% earn below $22,290, and the highest 10% earn above $37,010.
How Much Does an HHA Make an Hour?
In any industry, certifications increase your earning potential because they raise the value of your skills.
On average, HHAs earn $13.04 an hour. Washington and Massachusetts top the list with an average of $17.45. Alaska and the District of Columbia follow with an average of $17.34 and $17.34.
Louisiana is the lowest paying state, with an average hourly wage of $8.76. Alabama is next with an average of $10.54, and West Virginia follows with $10.71.
HHA Salary by State
Home Health Aide salaries differ due to supply and demand. Sparsely populated and geographically remote areas such as Alaska and North Dakota tend to have a higher demand.
This variance also applies to states bordering higher-income states like Washington and Iowa.
State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Compared To National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | $10.54 | $21,920.00 | -19% |
Alaska | $17.34 | $36,060.00 | 33% |
Arizona | $13.94 | $29,000.00 | 7% |
Arkansas | $11.32 | $23,540.00 | -13% |
California | $14.27 | $29,680.00 | 9% |
Colorado | $14.38 | $29,910.00 | 10% |
Connecticut | $14.30 | $29,740.00 | 10% |
Delaware | $11.74 | $24,420.00 | -10% |
District of Columbia | $15.04 | $31,280.00 | 15% |
Florida | $11.50 | $23,910.00 | -12% |
Georgia | $11.22 | $23,340.00 | -14% |
Hawaii | $14.17 | $29,470.00 | 9% |
Idaho | $11.49 | $23,910.00 | -12% |
Illinois | $14.11 | $29,340.00 | 8% |
Indiana | $11.57 | $24,070.00 | -11% |
Iowa | $13.89 | $28,900.00 | 7% |
Kansas | $11.16 | $23,210.00 | -14% |
Kentucky | $13.31 | $27,690.00 | 2% |
Louisiana | $8.76 | $18,210.00 | -33% |
Maine | $14.28 | $29,700.00 | 10% |
Maryland | $14.08 | $29,290.00 | 8% |
Massachusetts | $17.45 | $36,300.00 | 34% |
Michigan | $13.53 | $28,150.00 | 4% |
Minnesota | $14.09 | $29,320.00 | 8% |
Mississippi | $10.92 | $22,720.00 | -16% |
Missouri | $11.11 | $23,110.00 | -15% |
Montana | $13.83 | $28,760.00 | 6% |
Nebraska | $13.87 | $28,840.00 | 6% |
Nevada | $11.28 | $23,460.00 | -13% |
New Hampshire | $14.12 | $29,370.00 | 8% |
New Jersey | $14.18 | $29,500.00 | 9% |
New Mexico | $11.04 | $22,970.00 | -15% |
New York | $14.57 | $30,300.00 | 12% |
North Carolina | $11.13 | $23,150.00 | -15% |
North Dakota | $14.62 | $30,410.00 | 12% |
Ohio | $11.54 | $24,000.00 | -12% |
Oklahoma | $10.75 | $22,350.00 | -18% |
Oregon | $14.45 | $30,060.00 | 11% |
Pennsylvania | $13.65 | $28,390.00 | 5% |
Rhode Island | $14.09 | $29,300.00 | 8% |
South Carolina | $11.01 | $22,900.00 | -16% |
South Dakota | $13.92 | $28,950.00 | 7% |
Tennessee | $11.24 | $23,370.00 | -14% |
Texas | $10.82 | $22,500.00 | -17% |
Utah | $13.99 | $29,110.00 | 7% |
Vermont | $14.44 | $30,040.00 | 11% |
Virginia | $11.06 | $23,010.00 | -15% |
Washington | $17.45 | $36,300.00 | 34% |
West Virginia | $10.71 | $22,280.00 | -18% |
Wisconsin | $13.65 | $28,400.00 | 5% |
Wyoming | $14.06 | $29,250.00 | 8% |
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National Average | $13.04 | $27,120.78 |
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The highest paying states exceed the national average, with Washington and Massachusetts leading at $36,300.00 per year.
In Alaska, HHAs make $36,060.00 and $31,280.00 in the District of Columbia. North Dakota is next on the list with an average salary of $30,410.00, and New York comes next with $30,300.00 per year.
Factors That Affect How Much an HHA Makes
Various factors affect HHA salaries, such as location and education. Let's take a closer look at these factors.
Experience Level
As with most professions, having more experience as an HHA raises the possibility of a higher income. Take a look at how the experience level contributes to the average salary.
Level of experience | Salary |
|---|---|
Entry-level HHAs, with less than 1-year experience | $24,803 |
Early career, 1 to 4 years | $28,338 |
Mid-career, 5 to 9 years | $31,975 |
Experienced, 10 to 19 years | $35,115 |
Late career, 20+ years | $41,525 |
Location
Where you live and work as an HHA also affects your average income.
Large cities and metropolitan areas offer higher salaries due to the high cost of living.
The metropolitan areas with the highest HHA salaries are Barnstable Town, Napa, New Bedford, San Francisco, and Fairbanks.
Metropolitan Area | Average Salary |
|---|---|
Napa, California | $47,670 |
Fairbanks, Alaska | $35,030 |
San Francisco, California | $34,470 |
New Bedford, Massachusetts | $34,430
|
Barnstable Town, Massachusetts | $34,430 |
Education Level
Legally, you don't need any specific certificate or degree to become a Home Health Aide. However, the majority of employers recommend that you have either.
In most states, HHAs must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and a health professions license. You can get this license by taking short certificate courses in your local vocational institution or community college.
It will also be easier to find employment as an HHA if you have some knowledge and a better understanding of the field. For instance, your chances of getting an HHA job are higher if you have an associate degree in the medical field.
The Industry
The particular industry you work in as an HHA affects your income. The highest paying industries for HHAs are:
Industry | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
State Government | $ 18.95 | $ 39,420 |
Educational Support Services | $ 21.19 | $ 44,080 |
Scientific Research & Development | $ 18.67 | $ 38,830 |
Grant-making and Giving Services | $ 21.44 | $ 44,600 |
How Quickly Can You Become an HHA and Start Earning?
You can become a certified HHA in less than one year because of the minimal requirements. There are no official certification and licensing requirements to work as an HHA. However, most employers require you to have certification in another field.
You can take certification classes at a local college or institution, and such courses often last for one semester. If you don't want to enroll in a local institution, you can take online courses for four to six weeks.
If you'd like to become certified, you can consider trying the National Association for Home Healthcare and Hospice. The training lasts 75 hours, and there's a final exam.
Some states also require you to have formal training of up to 75 hours in essential areas such as basic nutrition, hygiene, and CPR.
Recommended Reading - How to Become a Home Health Aide (HHA) in The USA?
How Does HHA Compare to Other Nursing Jobs?
Generally, the salary of an HHA is often lower than other nursing jobs. The reason may be due to minimal education and experience requirements.
Nursing Job | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
Nurse Practitioner (NP) | $116,358.04 |
Registered Nurse (RN) | $76,944.90 |
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA ) | $140,357.71 |
Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) | $32,500.98 |
Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) | $32,554.78 |
Licensed vocational nurses (LVN)/licensed practical nurses (LPN) | $51,097.65 |
Travel Nurse | $87,958.51 |
ICU Nurse | $84,281.06 |
Labor/Delivery Nurse | $75,192.16 |
Scrub Nurse | $73,366.94 |
Pediatric Nurse | $69,473.96 |
ER Nurse | $78,451.61 |
Neonatal Nurse
| $71,267.04 |
Flight Nurse | $89,579.22 |
Charge Nurse | $73,298.27 |
HHA (Home Health Aides) Salary FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions to explore about a Home Health Aides salary.
Am I Being Paid Fairly as an HHA?
Your income as an HHA depends on your location, the industry you work in, experience level, certifications, and education level. You can use an online calculator to compare your income with the average in your location.
Are HHAs Paid Mostly Hourly Or Annually?
Your employer often determines whether to offer hourly or annual wages.
In most cases, HHAs receive hourly compensation instead of a yearly salary.
Do HHAs Get Paid Overtime?
Labor laws require that caregiving tasks that occupy more than 20% of the workweek earn minimum wage and overtime.
HHAs get overtime pay depending on whether they reside within the workplace. If you don’t live at your workplace, you should get overtime pay for every extra hour you work above the weekly 40 hours.
If you live within your workplace, your overtime is above 44 hours a week for every additional hour.
What State Pays HHAs the Most per Hour?
HHAs earn the highest wages in Washington and Massachusetts, with an average hourly rate of $17.45. The second highest states are Alaska and the District of Columbia at $17.34.
Can You Live Off an HHAs Salary in the USA?
Your salary as an HHA depends on various factors, including location. The highest paying states and metropolitan areas also have a high cost of living.
When considering the ideal workplace, the best move is to compare the cost of living alongside the salary.
If you plan to relocate to a state with higher wages, ensure you consider the difference. If the amount is less than $5000, relocating may not make a big difference to your income.
What is the Difference Between an HHA (Home Health Aide) and a PCA (Personal Care Aide)?
The main difference between an HHA (Home Health Aide and a PCA (Personal Care Aide) is the training. Both roles have personal care responsibilities, but an HHA has more training.
An HHA can handle more complex responsibilities such as basic dressing changes, monitoring vital signs, and elaborate diet regimes. A PCA manages basic tasks and errands such as cleaning, meal preparation, personal hygiene, or bathing.
How Much Do Personal Care Aides (PCAs) Make?
On average, PCA in the U.S. earns $11.91 per hour or an annual salary of $24,702.
How Much Do Home Carers Make?
The average pay for home carers in the U.S. is about $10.95 an hour, equivalent to $22,776 a year.
How to Earn More as a Home Healthcare Aide
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment rates for HHA will increase by 33% between 2020 and 2030. This rate is significantly higher than the general average rate in all other occupations.
With such growth rates, job opportunities will increase, and so will the pay. As a home healthcare aid, you can get certifications and specialize in particular areas to help improve your chances of earning more.
For instance, you can specialize in caring for elderly patients with cardiac issues. It will be easier to find employment in home health agencies.
Strengthen Your Skills
Acquiring and polishing particular skills in high demand makes you eligible for better-paying positions and promotions.
Some essential skills you should consider are:
First Aid - Ensure you master how to offer primary medical care during medical emergencies.
CPR - It's vital to acquire certification in CPR and understand proper CPR administration in emergencies.
Medication Administration - Learn the appropriate administration of various medications such as topical, oral, and injectable medication.
Infection Control - Learn and practice the best practices to prevent infection spread.
Patient Assessment - Ensure to master the processes of evaluating a patient’s vital signs and general condition.
Take up More Responsibilities at Work
One of the best ways to highlight your value and raise your HHA income is by handling more responsibilities. You can take up more administrative duties or patient care tasks. It shows your capabilities and makes you a valuable team member.
Ensure You Have Great Performance Reviews
Getting excellent performance reviews from your superiors increases your chances of promotion and a higher salary. Ensure you perform all your duties appropriately to show you deserve the raise. It also helps you negotiate better pay as you gain more experience.
Acquire Certification
Although there are no official professional license requirements for working as an HHA, earning certification is beneficial.
Some states require you to get 120 hours of hands-on training. Once you pass the standardized test, you will receive your certificate as an HHA.
Consider Multiple Agencies
If the home care company you work for offers inadequate hours, it’s best to consider working with other agencies. You can start by applying to health care departments in business establishments.
Most companies require your services even if the roles are not strictly health care aide. Such functions are easy to handle, contributing to your skills and experience.
Ensure Diligence in your Service
As an HHA, it’s essential to ensure your availability for work. If you’re always willing and available for extra work, you’re more likely to get offered more opportunities.
Besides the extra income, you will earn recognition for promotions. If you have young children at home, it's best to look for babysitting alternatives that allow you to leave on short notice.
Optimize Your Earning Potential as an HHA
Becoming a certified Home Health Aide is a simple and brief process. There are minimal requirements, so it's easy to advance your career.
Compensation for HHAs may be perceived as low, but you can easily maximize your income by taking more hours. ShiftMed opens you to the world of potential by connecting you with available work opportunities near you.
The shift flexibility allows you to determine how much, when, and where you want to work. You can truly optimize your income with access to hundreds of available shifts near you.
Get in touch today and gain the confidence of guaranteed pay.