Home Health Aides

SOC code 31-1121 · O*NET-SOC 31-1121.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Healthcare

Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth and numerous job openings for this occupation

Home health aides visit people in their own homes to help with daily living — bathing, dressing, light meal preparation — often for elderly clients or people recovering from illness. It is one of the fastest-growing roles in the country because care is steadily moving out of facilities and into homes. Most enter through a short training course, and certification requirements vary by state and by the agency's Medicare status.

Home Health Aides pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$35,800

a year

Hourly

$17.21

per hour

10th$27,040Median$35,80090th$45,040

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$36,120

$17.36 per hour

Middle 50%

$31,920 – $39,470

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$27,040 – $45,040

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

4,305,810

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Home Health and Personal Care Aides”, not this job alone.

10th percentile: $27,040; $13.00/hr
25th percentile: $31,920; $15.35/hr
Median percentile: $35,800; $17.21/hr
75th percentile: $39,470; $18.98/hr
90th percentile: $45,040; $21.65/hr

What does a home health aide do?

Monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illness, and address their health-related needs, such as changing bandages, dressing wounds, or administering medication. Work is performed under the direction of offsite or intermittent onsite licensed nursing staff. Provide assistance with routine healthcare tasks or activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, toileting, or ambulation. May also help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry depending on the patient's abilities.

The tasks that matter most day to day

Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
Bathe patients.
Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.

How to become a home health aide

Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed

Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

See all zone 2 occupations →

The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.

Common questions

How much does a home health aide earn?

The national median is $35,800 a year. The full range runs from $27,040 at the 10th percentile to $45,040 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a home health aide without a degree?

Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Active Listening3.9/5
Reading Comprehension3.1/5
Monitoring3.1/5
Speaking3.0/5
Critical Thinking3.0/5

Knowledge areas

Psychology4.2/5
Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
Medicine and Dentistry3.7/5
English Language3.5/5
Public Safety and Security3.5/5
Therapy and Counseling3.5/5
Production and Processing3.2/5
Sociology and Anthropology3.2/5

Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving.