Home Health and Personal Care Aides Salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
In Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA, home health and personal care aides earn $33,540 at the median — $16.13 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.8), so that salary is closer to $30,827 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,124/month — about 134.9% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $34K get you in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
About home health and personal care aides
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Entry-level home health and personal care aides (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K.Top earners bring in $45K or more - a $11K 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 Maria-Santa Barbara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do home health and personal care aides make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median is $33,540 a year - that works out to about $16.13 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,440, and experienced home health and personal care aides can clear $44,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,372/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,124/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 131.7% 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 Maria-Santa Barbara?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has a Regional Price Parity of 108.8 (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 $30,827 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.