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Salary comparison

Nursing Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Who Earns More?

Nursing Assistantss out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aidess by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Nursing Assistantss land at $42,260 and Home Health and Personal Care Aidess at $35,800. The education gap is real: nursing 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 Nursing Assistantss is Oregon ($49,830); for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess it's Washington ($47,730).

Nursing Assistants
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
Median salary
$42,260
$35,800
Hourly rate
$20.32/hr
$17.21/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,940
$27,040
Senior level (90th %)
$51,980
$45,040
Education required
Postsecondary nondegree award
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
1,448,910
4,305,810
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
17%
Category
Healthcare Support
Healthcare Support
Top-paying state
Oregon
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Nursing Assistants median pay.

State
Nursing Assistants
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
Oregon
$49,830
$44,410
Washington
$49,180
$47,730
New York
$48,590
$39,620
New Hampshire
$47,870
$38,760
District of Columbia
$47,700
$42,700
Colorado
$47,380
$38,540
Vermont
$47,130
$41,600
Maine
$47,070
$38,580
Massachusetts
$46,680
$40,910
Minnesota
$46,680
$38,370
Rhode Island
$46,440
$43,680
Alaska
$46,370
$39,740
North Dakota
$45,820
$39,440
Hawaii
$45,350
$38,110
Connecticut
$44,790
$38,990

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Nursing Assistantss or Home Health and Personal Care Aidess?

Nursing Assistantss earn more nationally. The median is $42,260 for Nursing Assistantss versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Nursing Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Nursing Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?

Nursing 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 Nursing Assistantss get paid the most?

Oregon is the top-paying state for Nursing Assistantss at $49,830/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Nursing Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Oregon, Nursing Assistantss earn $49,830 vs. $44,410 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Nursing Assistants salary breakdownView →Full Home Health and Personal Care Aides salary breakdownView →Best cities for Nursing Assistantss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess by take-home payExplore →How to become a nursing assistantsGuide →How to become a home health and personal care aidesGuide →