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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Home Health Aide actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $35,739 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $27,729 to $66,524. The $25,017 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Healthcare Support within the broader Healthcare Support industry, Home Health Aides typically hold High school + training. The employment landscape is shaped by very high demand, and the day-to-day is home visits. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$38,795 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Home Health Aide in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $66,524 — $38,795 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($27,729). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Home Health Aides average $25,733, the median sits at $35,739, and senior earners pull in $50,750. That $25,017 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $44,628 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $62,970 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $28,411 (average of the bottom 3). That $34,559 delta is real money — $2,880/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Home Health Aide in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $66,524 — $38,795 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($27,729). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The 10th-percentile (entry-level) Home Health Aide salary averages $25,733 nationally. That's below the typical median household income, which means early-career earnings depend heavily on location and cost of living.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $25,733 | $35,739 | $50,750 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £14,019 | £19,471 | £27,648 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$21,379 | CA$29,693 | CA$42,164 |
| Australia | 13 | A$24,167 | A$33,565 | A$47,663 |
| Sweden | 24 | 147,421 kr | 204,751 kr | 290,747 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $32,688 | $45,400 | $64,468 |
| California | 61 | $29,369 | $40,790 | $57,922 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $28,312 | $39,322 | $55,838 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $27,570 | $38,291 | $54,373 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $26,845 | $37,285 | $52,945 |
| Washington | 8 | $26,309 | $36,539 | $51,886 |
| Oregon | 5 | $26,015 | $36,132 | $51,308 |
| Colorado | 11 | $25,878 | $35,941 | $51,037 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $25,864 | $35,922 | $51,009 |
| New York | 5 | $25,740 | $35,750 | $50,765 |
| Illinois | 5 | $25,682 | $35,669 | $50,651 |
| Nevada | 5 | $25,388 | $35,260 | $50,070 |
| Virginia | 7 | $25,373 | $35,240 | $50,041 |
| Idaho | 3 | $25,373 | $35,240 | $50,041 |
| Utah | 4 | $25,162 | $34,947 | $49,625 |
| Florida | 22 | $25,138 | $34,914 | $49,578 |
| Arizona | 12 | $25,114 | $34,880 | $49,529 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $25,084 | $34,838 | $49,470 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $24,794 | $34,436 | $48,899 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $24,625 | $34,201 | $48,565 |
| Michigan | 6 | $24,596 | $34,161 | $48,509 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $24,584 | $34,145 | $48,486 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $24,533 | $34,073 | $48,384 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $24,142 | $33,530 | $47,613 |
| Alaska | 1 | $24,142 | $33,530 | $47,613 |
| Iowa | 2 | $24,142 | $33,530 | $47,613 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $24,142 | $33,530 | $47,613 |
| Montana | 1 | $24,142 | $33,530 | $47,613 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $23,812 | $33,072 | $46,962 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $23,780 | $33,027 | $46,899 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $23,777 | $33,023 | $46,893 |
| Texas | 40 | $23,745 | $32,978 | $46,830 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $23,665 | $32,868 | $46,672 |
| Georgia | 6 | $23,599 | $32,776 | $46,541 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $23,569 | $32,734 | $46,482 |
| Indiana | 3 | $23,506 | $32,647 | $46,359 |
| Alabama | 5 | $23,244 | $32,283 | $45,842 |
| Ohio | 6 | $23,192 | $32,211 | $45,740 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $23,176 | $32,189 | $45,708 |
| Maryland | 1 | $23,152 | $32,155 | $45,660 |
| Missouri | 4 | $23,134 | $32,130 | $45,625 |
| Kansas | 4 | $23,080 | $32,055 | $45,518 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $22,983 | $31,921 | $45,328 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $22,862 | $31,753 | $45,090 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $21,390 | $29,708 | $42,185 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $20,400 | $28,333 | $40,233 |
At the state level, Hawaii leads with an average Home Health Aide median of $45,400 across 1 cities, followed by California ($40,790) and Massachusetts ($39,322). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska — offer medians between $28,333 and $31,753. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($66,524 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $33,598 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $49,121 | 146 | $33,645 | $32,971 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $66,524 | 198 | $33,598 | $42,899 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $50,731 | 151 | $33,597 | $36,070 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $56,766 | 169 | $33,589 | $37,332 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $59,449 | 177 | $33,587 | $38,863 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $61,796 | 184 | $33,585 | $40,202 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $56,733 | 169 | $33,570 | $44,859 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $53,950 | 161 | $33,509 | $35,725 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $49,256 | 147 | $33,507 | $33,048 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $48,920 | 146 | $33,507 | $32,856 |
The $25,017 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Home Health Aide career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Healthcare Support sector, very high demand, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Home Health Aides is $35,739 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $25,733, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $50,750.
The highest-paying city for Home Health Aides is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $66,524. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($66,524), Irvine ($61,796), San Francisco ($60,589). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Home Health Aide salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $27,729. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Home Health Aides (10th percentile) average $25,733 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $47,897. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Home Health Aides average $50,750 nationally — $25,017 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Home Health Aides can earn up to $94,464.
The top-paying states for Home Health Aides are Hawaii ($45,400 median), California ($40,790 median), Massachusetts ($39,322 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Home Health Aide involves High school + training. The field is in the Healthcare Support sector (Healthcare Support), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically home visits.
With a national median of $35,739 and representation across 288 metro areas, Home Health Aide offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $25,017 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.