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Salary comparison

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

Pharmacy Aidess out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aidess by $2K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Pharmacy Aidess land at $37,680 and Home Health and Personal Care Aidess at $35,800. The education gap is real: pharmacy aide programs typically require postsecondary nondegree award, while home health and personal care aide programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Pharmacy Aidess is District of Columbia ($59,960); for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess it's Washington ($47,730).

Pharmacy Aides
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
Median salary
$37,680
$35,800
Hourly rate
$18.12/hr
$17.21/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$29,820
$27,040
Senior level (90th %)
$56,010
$45,040
Education required
Postsecondary nondegree award
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
39,530
4,305,810
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
17%
Category
Healthcare Support
Healthcare Support
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Pharmacy Aides median pay.

State
Pharmacy Aides
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
District of Columbia
$59,960
$42,700
Hawaii
$46,250
$38,110
Washington
$45,110
$47,730
Oregon
$40,250
$44,410
Maine
$38,060
$38,580
New York
$38,040
$39,620
Rhode Island
$38,020
$43,680
Colorado
$37,580
$38,540
Minnesota
$37,430
$38,370
Massachusetts
$37,390
$40,910
New Hampshire
$37,350
$38,760
Vermont
$37,310
$41,600
Illinois
$37,010
$38,060
Connecticut
$36,350
$38,990
Maryland
$35,170
$38,040

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

Common questions

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

Pharmacy Aidess earn more nationally. The median is $37,680 for Pharmacy Aidess versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess, a difference of $2K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Pharmacy Aides 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 Pharmacy Aidess get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Pharmacy Aidess at $59,960/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Pharmacy Aidess earn $59,960 vs. $42,700 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Pharmacy Aides salary breakdownView →Full Home Health and Personal Care Aides salary breakdownView →Best cities for Pharmacy Aidess by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess by take-home payExplore →How to become a pharmacy aidesGuide →How to become a home health and personal care aidesGuide →