Personal Care Aides
SOC code 31-1122 · O*NET-SOC 31-1122.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth and numerous job openings for this occupation
Personal care aides help clients with everyday tasks, companionship and errands, usually in the client's home. The role overlaps with home health work but is less clinical — no medical tasks — which keeps the entry route short. Demand is being driven by an ageing population that wants to stay at home.
Personal Care 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
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 personal care aide do?
Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation). May also provide help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry. Work is performed in various settings depending on the needs of the care recipient and may include locations such as their home, place of work, out in the community, or at a daytime nonresidential facility.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
- Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.
- Train family members to provide bedside care.
- Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
- Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.
- Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.
- Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.
- Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands.
How to become a personal care aide
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 48% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
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.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)48%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree22%
- Less than a High School Diploma18%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6%
Common questions
How much does a personal care 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 personal care 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 Listening3.4/5
- Critical Thinking3.3/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language3.6/5
- Transportation3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.4/5
- Psychology3.4/5
- Education and Training3.4/5
- Public Safety and Security3.2/5
- Food Production3.0/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing, Time Management.