Home Health and Personal Care Aides Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, home health and personal care aides earn $33,460 at the median — $16.09 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $43K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $30,446 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 182.4% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $33K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
About home health and personal care aides
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level home health and personal care aides (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K.Top earners bring in $43K or more - a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $46K | +32% | 100,360 |
| Rhode Island | $42K | +20% | 8,800 |
| Oregon | $41K | +19% | 38,890 |
| Massachusetts | $40K | +13% | 108,090 |
| District of Columbia | $39K | +13% | 11,490 |
| North Dakota | $39K | +12% | 7,090 |
| Alaska | $38K | +10% | 6,220 |
| Connecticut | $38K | +9% | 41,890 |
| New York | $38K | +9% | 623,000 |
| Maine | $38K | +8% | 18,080 |
| New Jersey | $37K | +6% | 105,460 |
| Maryland | $37K | +6% | 38,520 |
| Hawaii | $37K | +6% | 6,260 |
| South Dakota | $37K | +5% | 4,170 |
| New Hampshire | $37K | +5% | 8,210 |
Track home health and personal care aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
How much do home health and personal care aides make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $33,460 a year - that works out to about $16.09 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,450, and experienced home health and personal care aides can clear $43,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,367/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 178% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a home health and personal care aides salary go in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median home health and personal care aides salary is worth about $30,446 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do home health and personal care aides get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.