Medical Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Who Earns More?
Medical Assistants out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aides by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Medical Assistants land at $45,690 and Home Health and Personal Care Aides at $35,800. The education gap is real: medical assistant programs typically require postsecondary nondegree award, while home health and personal care aide programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Medical Assistants is Washington ($59,290); for Home Health and Personal Care Aides it's Washington ($47,730).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Medical Assistants median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Medical Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Medical Assistants earn more nationally. The median is $45,690 for Medical Assistants versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Medical Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Home Health and Personal Care Aides has the better 10-year outlook at 17% projected growth, compared to 12.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Medical Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Medical Assistants typically requires postsecondary nondegree award. Home Health and Personal Care Aides requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Medical Assistants get paid the most?
Washington is the top-paying state for Medical Assistants at $59,290/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Medical Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Medical Assistants earn $59,290 vs. $47,730 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.