Caregiver Hourly Pay, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 63,324 US job postings by 5,788 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for caregivers: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 63,324 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for caregivers in US job postings is $18.25 an hour (21,906 postings from 2,055 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $16.50 to $20.00 an hour.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $18.64 an hour (6,234 postings).
- The skills that most set caregiver postings apart are compassionate, companionship, meal preparation.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 1 year of experience.
Caregiver job postings in the US, October 2026
- $18.25/hr
- Median advertised pay (21,906 postings)
- $16.50–$20.00
- Middle 50% of postings
- $18.64/hr
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 63,324
- US job postings from 5,788 employers
How much does a caregiver make an hour?
The median advertised pay is $18.25 an hour, from 21,906 US job postings by 2,055 employers that state pay. That is about $38,000 a year at 2,080 hours.
Advertised pay in 21,906 US caregiver job postings: median $38,000 a year ($18.25 an hour), middle half $34,000 to $42,000.
- Median: $38,000 ($18.25/hr)
- 25th percentile: $34,000
- 75th percentile: $42,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.0% |
| $20K–$30K | 7.4% |
| $30K–$40K | 54.4% |
| $40K–$50K | 32.7% |
| $50K–$60K | 4.0% |
| $60K–$70K | 0.5% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $18.25 | $16.50–$20.00 | 9,526 |
| All pay postings, annualised | $38,000 | $34K–$42K | 21,906 |
What is the starting salary for a caregiver?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $18.64 an hour (6,234 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $18.64/hr | 6,234 |
| 2-4 years | $18.20/hr | 1,032 |
| 5+ years | $20.00/hr | 353 |
Highest-paying caregiver jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Support Professional | $19.00/hr | 4,590 | 540 |
| Home Health Aide | $19.00/hr | 1,628 | 353 |
| Direct Support Professional (DSP) | $19.00/hr | 1,135 | 187 |
| Resident Assistant | $18.50/hr | 364 | 126 |
| Personal Care Aide | $18.00/hr | 914 | 222 |
| Caregiver/CNA | $18.00/hr | 962 | 230 |
| In Home Caregiver | $17.98/hr | 4,069 | 357 |
| Caregiver (general) | $17.50/hr | 5,743 | 707 |
| Caregivers | $17.00/hr | 1,766 | 216 |
Caregiver pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $22.00/hr | $21.00–$23.50 | 605 | 1.8% |
| Montana | $21.41/hr | $19.03–$24.00 | 137 | 0.4% |
| Oregon | $21.25/hr | $20.00–$23.50 | 512 | 1.7% |
| Massachusetts | $20.50/hr | $19.50–$21.75 | 830 | 3.6% |
| California | $20.00/hr | $18.50–$22.50 | 1,866 | 7.3% |
| Minnesota | $20.00/hr | $18.86–$21.00 | 890 | 4.0% |
| New York | $19.80/hr | $18.65–$21.00 | 1,344 | 7.9% |
| New Jersey | $19.75/hr | $18.75–$21.00 | 1,420 | 8.1% |
| Colorado | $19.75/hr | $18.64–$20.75 | 220 | 1.4% |
| Connecticut | $19.00/hr | $18.25–$20.20 | 369 | 1.7% |
| Illinois | $18.75/hr | $18.00–$20.00 | 2,059 | 5.8% |
| Maine | $18.75/hr | $18.50–$20.00 | 186 | 0.7% |
| Missouri | $18.00/hr | $16.50–$19.50 | 257 | 1.5% |
| Maryland | $18.00/hr | $16.81–$20.00 | 210 | 1.2% |
| Virginia | $17.50/hr | $16.00–$19.00 | 287 | 2.2% |
| Iowa | $17.50/hr | $17.00–$19.00 | 305 | 1.3% |
| Michigan | $17.13/hr | $16.50–$18.00 | 330 | 2.9% |
| Pennsylvania | $17.00/hr | $16.00–$18.80 | 1,237 | 8.4% |
| Arizona | $17.00/hr | $16.25–$19.18 | 335 | 2.0% |
| Wisconsin | $17.00/hr | $15.00–$19.50 | 273 | 1.6% |
| Nebraska | $17.00/hr | $16.00–$18.88 | 137 | 0.9% |
| Utah | $17.00/hr | $16.50–$19.71 | 122 | 0.7% |
| New Mexico | $17.00/hr | $14.50–$19.00 | 122 | 0.4% |
| Florida | $16.75/hr | $15.50–$18.00 | 510 | 3.1% |
| Ohio | $16.50/hr | $16.00–$17.50 | 411 | 2.7% |
| Tennessee | $16.00/hr | $15.37–$16.75 | 466 | 2.6% |
| North Carolina | $16.00/hr | $14.19–$17.50 | 308 | 2.2% |
| Indiana | $16.00/hr | $15.00–$16.75 | 255 | 2.1% |
| South Carolina | $16.00/hr | $15.00–$17.51 | 261 | 2.0% |
| Georgia | $15.50/hr | $14.50–$16.50 | 345 | 2.6% |
| Texas | $15.00/hr | $13.00–$16.50 | 1,051 | 5.9% |
| West Virginia | $14.75/hr | $14.00–$24.00 | 107 | 0.8% |
Skills employers ask for in caregiver job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Compassionate | 35% |
| Communication | 30% |
| Dependable | 14% |
| Interpersonal skills | 14% |
| Companionship | 9% |
| Reliable | 7% |
| Work independently | 7% |
| Patient | 7% |
| Meal preparation | 7% |
| Patience | 6% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set caregivers apart
- Compassionate12.1× as often as in all postings · 35%
- Companionship48.9× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Meal preparation43.6× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Dependable5.3× as often as in all postings · 14%
- Light housekeeping50.6× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Patient17.2× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Reliable4.7× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Patience6.1× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Compassion6.4× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Empathy4.7× as often as in all postings · 6%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a caregiver job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a caregiver do?
Employers post these jobs as Direct Support Professional, Home Health Aide, In Home Caregiver, Caregivers, DSP and other titles. The largest specializations are Direct Support Professional (21%), In Home Caregiver (14%), Home Health Aide (10%), Personal Care Aide (5%), Caregiver/CNA (7%), Caregivers (6%).
The closest official occupation is Personal Care Aides (31-1122.00). Its most important tasks:
- 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.
- 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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a caregiver?
Among 4,928 postings that state a minimum, the median is 1 year. 1% say 0 years and 76% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 4,928 US caregiver job postings: median 1 year, and 76% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 10% |
| 1 yr | 66% |
| 2 yrs | 14% |
| 3-4 yrs | 7% |
| 5-7 yrs | 2% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 1% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Part-time 51%, Full-time 49% of the 5,187 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a caregiver: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Caregiver | 1,629 (28.1%) |
| Direct Support Professional | 1,003 (17.3%) |
| Home Health Aide | 678 (11.7%) |
| In Home Caregiver | 313 (5.4%) |
| Caregivers | 284 (4.9%) |
| DSP | 280 (4.8%) |
| Home Care Aide | 258 (4.5%) |
| Personal Care Aide | 229 (4.0%) |
| Resident Assistant | 193 (3.3%) |
| Personal Care Assistant | 188 (3.2%) |
| HHA | 159 (2.8%) |
| Direct Support Professional (DSP) | 158 (2.7%) |
| Caregivers Needed | 153 (2.6%) |
| Companion Caregiver | 153 (2.6%) |
| Personal Care Assistant (PCA) | 150 (2.6%) |
| Certified Home Health Aide | 147 (2.5%) |
| Part Time Caregiver | 137 (2.4%) |
| Weekend Caregiver | 136 (2.4%) |
| Caregiver Needed | 134 (2.3%) |
| Caregiver/CNA | 117 (2.0%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Caregiver job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Support Professional | 9,034 | 1,003 | $19.00/hr | 1 year | communication, compassionate, interpersonal skills |
| Home Care Aide | 2,685 | 258 | $18.00/hr | – | communication, compassionate, detail-oriented |
| Home Health Aide | 3,377 | 678 | $18.00/hr | 1 year | compassionate, communication, interpersonal skills |
| In Home Caregiver | 1,551 | 313 | $18.00/hr | – | compassionate, communication, dependable |
| Personal Care Aide | 857 | 229 | – | – | communication, compassionate, dependable |
Caregiver vs Home Health Aide
| Caregiver | Home Health Aide | |
|---|---|---|
| Open US postings | 12,450 | 3,377 |
| Employers | 1,629 | 678 |
| Median advertised pay | $17.50/hr | $18.00/hr |
| Median experience asked | 1 year | 1 year |
| Skills that stand out | social engagement | detail-oriented |
Caregiver compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caregiver | $18.25/hr | 1 year | 63,324 | – |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | $21.00/hr | 1 year | 31,478 | 21 |
| Behavior Technician | $24.00/hr | 1 year | 13,716 | 17 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $35.00/hr | 1 year | 6,754 | 13 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $32.65/hr | 1 year | 34,229 | 14 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 21 | $21.00/hr |
| Behavior Technician | 17 | $24.00/hr |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | 13 | $35.00/hr |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 14 | $32.65/hr |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | 14 | $34.52/hr |
| Recreation Coordinator | 15 | $18.75/hr |
Applying for caregiver jobs?
- Caregiver resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find caregiver jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
What are the highest-paying caregiver jobs?
How much does a Direct Support Professional make?
How much does a Home Care Aide make?
How much does a Home Health Aide make?
How much does an In Home Caregiver make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 19 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.