Ask Mike - How much do home health aides get paid

Dear Health Aide Pay

Thanks for writing. You want to know how much home health aides are paid and whether they receive weekends off. There is no one answer to your question. Not only do pay and benefits (such as weekends off) vary significantly from state to state, but they also vary between programs within the same state.

The PAS Center Website has information that can assist with finding the information you want. Go to www.pascenter.org Next, point to "Workers and Caregivers" located in the middle of the menu along the top of the homepage. A drop-down menu will appear. Click on "State workforce data and resources". Next, click on "View PCAs wage chart book" located under "State Wages for Personal Care Aides, 2000 – 2010". Next, click on "Find Hourly Wages for a Specific State" located in the "Table of Contents" to the left of the page. Finally, click on your "State" in the map of the USA.

There is no real answer to the question of weekends off. Individuals who need and use PAS often need the assistance every day. However, the actual work schedule and whether the schedule includes work on weekends or evenings, varies from individual to individual and worker (or agency that actually hires the worker) to worker or agency to agency.

I hope you find the wage research helpful.

Mike Oxford