Certified Nursing Assistant
Provide hands-on daily care to patients and residents under nurse supervision.
- $42,260
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Healthcare career
Home Health Aide
Also called: Personal Care Aide · Caregiver · HHA · Direct Support Professional
What home health aides do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a home health aide do?
Home health aides help clients with bathing, dressing, meals, mobility and medication reminders in their own homes, and report changes in condition to a nurse or care supervisor. The median pay is $35,800 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2–6 weeks, and employment is projected to grow +18.1% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$35,800$17.21/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+18.1%2025–35, much faster than average
- Openings per year760,500Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to train2–6 weeksTypical program length
- U.S. jobs4,677,100Employment, 2025
What home health aides do
Home health aides make it possible for people to stay in their own homes instead of moving to a facility. They help clients with personal care, light housekeeping, meals and getting around, keep them company, and watch for changes in health that a nurse needs to know about. Many aides visit several clients a day; others work long shifts or live-in assignments with one client.
This is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country because the population is aging and most people prefer to receive care at home. Aides who work for Medicare- or Medicaid-certified agencies must complete at least 75 hours of training and pass a competency evaluation. Many aides later become certified nursing assistants, medical assistants or nurses.
Typical duties
- Assist clients with bathing, grooming, toileting and dressing
- Help clients move safely, including transfers and walking
- Prepare meals that follow the client’s diet plan
- Give medication reminders and record what was taken
- Check and record vital signs when the care plan calls for it
- Do light housekeeping, laundry and errands
- Report changes in condition to the nurse or supervisor
Work environment and schedule
Aides work in clients’ homes, apartments and assisted-living units. The job involves lifting, bending and standing, and aides often drive between clients. Homes vary widely in cleanliness, layout and accessibility, so aides adapt to each setting.
Schedule: Schedules include short visits, full shifts, overnights, weekends and live-in assignments. Part-time and flexible hours are common, which suits people balancing school or family.
A day in the life
- Arrive at the first client’s home, review the care plan and notes from the last visit.
- Help the client out of bed, to the bathroom and into the shower using a shower chair.
- Prepare a low-sodium breakfast, give a medication reminder and record it.
- Drive to a second client, take blood pressure and help with range-of-motion exercises.
See a full day in the life of a home health aide →
Home Health Aide salary
Half of home health aides earned more than $35,800 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $27,040 for the lowest 10% to $45,040 for the top 10%.
Full home health aide pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a home health aide
- Meet basic requirements
- Complete home health aide training
- Pass the competency evaluation
- Get hired by an agency
- Grow your career
Most aides have a high school diploma. Aides employed by Medicare- or Medicaid-certified home health agencies must complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and pass a competency evaluation. Personal care aide rules vary by state.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a home health aide →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Personal care and hygiene assistance
- Safe transfers and fall prevention
- Vital signs measurement
- Meal preparation for special diets
- Infection control
People skills
- Compassion and patience
- Dependability
- Observation skills
- Respect for privacy and dignity
All home health aide skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fast entry: training takes a few weeks
- Very high demand in nearly every community
- Meaningful one-on-one relationships with clients
- Flexible schedules and part-time options
Cons
- Physically demanding lifting and transfers
- Emotionally hard when clients decline or pass away
- Driving between homes, often unpaid between visits
- Pay is modest and hours can be irregular
Certifications and licenses
- Home health aide certificate: Completion of a state-approved program of at least 75 hours plus a competency evaluation.
- CPR and first aid: Often required by agencies before you see clients.
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): A state credential that broadens job options and usually raises pay.
- Dementia care training: Specialized training for clients with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Career path
- Home Health Aide: Provide personal care in clients’ homes.
- Certified Nursing Assistant or Medication Aide: Add credentials and take on more complex clients and settings.
- Care Coordinator or Scheduler: Match aides with clients and manage schedules for an agency.
- LPN, RN or Agency Owner: Continue into nursing or open a home care business.
Learn the job before day one
Our Home Health Aide training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as help a client transfer from bed to wheelchair and give a bed bath, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Home Health Aide vs. CNA · Home Health Aide vs. Medical Assistant · Home Health Aide vs. LPN · Home Health Aide vs. Psych Tech
Home Health Aide FAQ
How long does it take to become a home health aide?
Many programs take two to six weeks. Federal rules require at least 75 hours of training for aides at certified agencies.
What’s the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?
Both provide hands-on care. CNAs usually work in hospitals and nursing homes and complete a state nurse aide exam, while home health aides work in clients’ homes. Many people hold both credentials.
Can home health aides give medications?
Usually aides give reminders and help clients take their own medications. Administering medications generally requires additional state training or a nurse.
How much does a home health aide make?
The median annual wage for home health aides was $35,800 ($17.21 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $27,040 and the highest 10% earned more than $45,040.
How long does it take to become a home health aide?
Most people need about 2–6 weeks of training. Most aides have a high school diploma. Aides employed by Medicare- or Medicaid-certified home health agencies must complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and pass a competency evaluation. Personal care aide rules vary by state.
Do you need a degree to be a home health aide?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.
More home health aide questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 31-1120 (Home health and personal care aides).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Home health and personal care aides (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.