Home Health and Personal Care Aides Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, home health and personal care aidess earn $37,260 at the median — $17.91 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $34,221 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month — about 87.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About home health and personal care aides
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level home health and personal care aides (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $14K 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 |
| Illinois | $36K | +4% | 119,640 |
| Minnesota | $36K | +4% | 120,390 |
| Arizona | $36K | +3% | 69,100 |
| Utah | $36K | +3% | 15,170 |
| Iowa | $35K | +1% | 23,830 |
| Kentucky | $35K | -0% | 27,620 |
| California | $35K | -1% | 875,110 |
| Nebraska | $34K | -2% | 11,390 |
| Vermont | $34K | -2% | 7,180 |
| Wisconsin | $34K | -2% | 80,050 |
| Idaho | $34K | -4% | 16,960 |
| Michigan | $33K | -4% | 83,960 |
| Montana | $33K | -5% | 8,010 |
| Florida | $33K | -7% | 87,500 |
| Delaware | $32K | -9% | 9,750 |
| Indiana | $31K | -10% | 54,690 |
| Wyoming | $31K | -10% | 3,360 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -12% | 37,020 |
| Ohio | $31K | -12% | 98,310 |
| North Carolina | $30K | -14% | 59,880 |
| Missouri | $30K | -15% | 91,570 |
| Nevada | $29K | -16% | 16,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $29K | -16% | 242,570 |
| Kansas | $29K | -16% | 25,050 |
| Virginia | $29K | -16% | 61,680 |
| South Carolina | $29K | -17% | 35,960 |
| Georgia | $28K | -20% | 46,430 |
| New Mexico | $27K | -22% | 37,360 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -22% | 19,720 |
| Alabama | $27K | -22% | 21,100 |
| West Virginia | $27K | -24% | 18,730 |
| Oklahoma | $27K | -24% | 20,560 |
| Mississippi | $24K | -32% | 19,020 |
| Texas | $23K | -33% | 314,610 |
| Louisiana | $21K | -39% | 42,380 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
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Frequently asked questions
How much do home health and personal care aides make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $37,260 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,260, and experienced home health and personal care aides can clear $44,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,568/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 87.5% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $34,221 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.