Caregiver Wage Data in Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Metro

Caregiver pay varies depending on your location and experience. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks market wages for home health and personal care aides. According to the BLS OEWS 2025 data, the median hourly wage across Pennsylvania is $14.14. The national median is $17.21.

In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan area, wages are slightly higher than the state average. The table below shows the hourly wage percentiles for the Philadelphia metro area, along with estimated annual earnings. These annual estimates assume a standard 40-hour workweek for 52 weeks (2,080 hours per year).

These figures represent the market wages that workers actually earn. They do not reflect the rates families pay to an agency for care services.

What Affects Your Caregiver Pay Rate

Your hourly pay rate depends on several factors, including your specific job title and responsibilities. Agencies hire for various roles, such as Caregiver, Home Health Aide (HHA), Direct Care Worker, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Live-In Caregiver. A worker with a CNA license or specific home health aide training may command a higher starting rate than an entry-level direct care worker.

The number of hours you work directly impacts your weekly take-home pay. Working overtime increases your earnings, while live-in care arrangements are priced and paid differently based on the agency’s specific policies. If you are exploring the field, review the requirements for how to become a caregiver in PA to understand the background checks, competency exams, and training needed.

When evaluating a job offer, look beyond the hourly wage. An agency’s pay scale is just one part of your total compensation. Benefits such as paid time off, health insurance, and retirement contributions add significant value to your employment package.

Ready to start working in Philadelphia? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form. Select “I am a caregiver” and then “I already have a client” to connect with our staff.

Participant-Directed Care Rates and the 2026 Wage Increase

Many caregivers in Pennsylvania work through the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver’s participant-directed option, known as Services My Way. In this model, the person receiving care acts as the employer. HHAeXchange serves as the Financial Management Services (FMS) vendor for the CHC plans, and subcontracts with Tempus Unlimited to handle worker enrollment, payroll, and tax reporting.

In the 2025-26 state budget, Pennsylvania allocated $21 million toward wage increases of up to 9% for direct care workers. This 9% figure includes employer-side payroll costs. As reported by the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, this increase was retroactive to January 1, 2026. For CHC participant-directed workers to receive the retroactive pay, the participant-employer had to file a rate change form with Tempus Unlimited by May 8, 2026.

Maximum pay rates in the participant-directed program differ by region and by the specific CHC plan. For example, in Region 2, the maximum rate allowed by AmeriHealth Caritas was $2.83 below the UPMC maximum and $3.66 below the PA Health & Wellness maximum. Caregivers who work through an agency model instead of Services My Way are paid according to their specific agency’s pay scale.

Pay for Family Caregivers

Family members often step in to help loved ones with daily activities like eating, bathing, and dressing. The CHC waiver allows family members to be paid for providing Personal Assistance Services. You can choose to work through a licensed home care agency or through the Services My Way participant-directed option.

State rules restrict certain relatives from receiving payment through the CHC waiver. The waiver will not pay for services provided by the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney (POA). Pandemic-era exceptions allowing these roles to be paid ended on May 11, 2023. You can read more about expected earnings on our page covering the caregiver pay rate in PA.

Understanding the rules and paperwork is a big part of caregiving. For a broader overview of the profession and related state rules, review our home caregiver guide.

Caregiver Benefits at New Century Home Care

New Century Home Care is a licensed non-medical home care agency based in Philadelphia. We employ caregivers to provide companion care, personal care, homemaker services, and specialized support for clients across Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties.

We value our staff and provide a full benefits package that goes beyond hourly pay. Caregivers at New Century receive weekly pay and direct deposit. We offer paid sick days, holiday pay, and the choice of paid vacation or extra pay. New hires are eligible for a $350 signing bonus.

To support your health and future, a free health insurance plan is available to eligible employees. We also provide free life insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan. If you are looking for a supportive environment with reliable benefits, review our caregiver job openings or explore our job listings to find a role that fits your experience.

Join the New Century team today. Call 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form by choosing “I am a caregiver” and “I already have a client” to get started.