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Job outlook for personal care assistants in the United States
Personal care assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected personal care assistant job growth rate is 36% from 2018-2028.
About 1,185,800 new jobs for personal care assistants are projected over the next decade.
Personal care assistant salaries have increased 26% for personal care assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 259,205 personal care assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 256,869 active personal care assistant job openings in the US.
The average personal care assistant salary is $26,643.
Are personal care assistant jobs in demand?
Personal Care Assistant job and salary trends over time
Personal Care Assistant jobs over time
Personal Care Assistant job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 259,205 | 0.08% |
| 2020 | 100,857 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 491,421 | 0.15% |
| 2018 | 985,884 | 0.30% |
| 2017 | 914,501 | 0.28% |
Average personal care assistant salary over time
Personal Care Assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,643 | $12.81 | +7.2% |
| 2024 | $24,843 | $11.94 | +7.4% |
| 2023 | $23,137 | $11.12 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | $22,251 | $10.70 | +5.4% |
| 2021 | $21,115 | $10.15 | +4.5% |
Personal Care Assistant jobs by state
Most common states for personal care assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 6,011 | 47% |
| 2 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,080 | 37% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,380 | 35% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 332 | 32% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 244 | 32% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 299 | 31% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 900 | 29% |
| 8 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 3,160 | 27% |
| 9 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,639 | 27% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 964 | 27% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 361 | 27% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,065 | 26% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 345 | 26% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,230 | 25% |
| 15 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,544 | 25% |
| 16 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2,479 | 25% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,453 | 25% |
| 18 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,600 | 24% |
| 19 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 167 | 24% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,114 | 23% |
Most common cities for personal care assistants
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bolingbrook | 6 | 8% | $25,691 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | 21 | 7% | $25,279 |
| 3 | Nashua | 5 | 6% | $30,086 |
| 4 | Durham | 5 | 2% | $23,377 |
| 5 | Saint Paul | 5 | 2% | $27,610 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | 8 | 1% | $26,076 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 7 | 1% | $21,790 |
| 8 | Indianapolis | 7 | 1% | $23,455 |
| 9 | Denver | 6 | 1% | $25,715 |
| 10 | Charlotte | 5 | 1% | $23,227 |
| 11 | Miami | 5 | 1% | $21,507 |
| 12 | Anchorage | 4 | 1% | $27,154 |
| 13 | Aurora | 4 | 1% | $25,698 |
| 14 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $32,437 |
| 15 | New York | 14 | 0% | $30,293 |
| 16 | Chicago | 4 | 0% | $25,747 |
Personal Care Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of personal care assistant experts
Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
Springfield College
Merrimack College
Bellevue College
What general advice would you give to a Personal Care Assistant?
Shanna Chapman DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, APRN: People like being a nursing assistant for a lot of reasons similar to those listed in #2. It is rewarding and gives the nursing assistant a sense of purpose. It gives them the opportunity to directly impact patients. There is a large variety of settings that the nursing assistant can choose to work in and there is definitely job stability. There is a high demand that will not be dissolving with an increase in the baby boomer population into geriatrics. There is opportunity for the knowledge gained to be utilized if the nursing assistant wants to go to nursing school and a lot of nurses will use it as a stepping stone to learn. The dislikes about being a nursing assistant is that it can be mentally and physically challenging. Some facilities may work shorthanded causing the nursing assistant to have higher patient loads resulting in stress as well as physically challenging. I also recommend that nursing assistants do their research on the facility before applying for a job. Make sure that the facility expectations, mission, and values are congruent with the nursing assistant's personal beliefs.
What Personal Care Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Shanna Chapman DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, APRN: Nursing assistants are pivotal in playing a critical role in providing basic care to patients in various health care settings. This role is extremely important and should not be underestimated. Nursing assistant responsibilities are: 1. Personal Care 2. Vital Signs 3. Mobility Assistance 4. Observing and Reporting 5. Assisting the nurse with procedures such as IV starts, foley catheters, wound care. 6. Maintaining a clean environment 7. Providing support for the patient and caregivers. 8. Assisting with meals that can including feeding 9. Documentation
Penny Ridenour
Dean of School of Health SciencesOklahoma State University - Oklahoma City
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Personal Care Assistant?
Penny Ridenour: In order to maximize your earnings, flexibility is key to fit the niche the employer needs. Intentionally accept assignments that will allow growth in a specialization. If possible, ask to shadow other professionals proficient in the specialization you desire.
What Personal Care Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Penny Ridenour: To differentiate yourself from the other new professionals entering healthcare after graduation, pay attention to the soft skills employers are looking for. Listening, empathy, and communication skills polish professional persona. Also, developing skills in resiliency will equip new professionals for a growing career in healthcare.
What will help Personal Care Assistants increase their earning potential?
Penny Ridenour: It is important to be committed to lifelong learning as healthcare is innovative and dynamic. Technological proficiency will be vital in adapting to any new changes in the field.
Megan Harvey Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Health ScienceSpringfield College
School of Health Sciences
What skills stand out on Personal Care Assistant resumes?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: Students who plan to go into the health care field need to have both determination and thick skin and the ability to be empathic and understand their patients. We've seen the way health care professionals are being treated change, even just in the past 5 years. It can be a hard balance to walk for health care professionals, to be both firm about evidence-based practice and empathetic and kind to their patients, but it's really the only way to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. I imagine that showing that you have worked in challenging health care situations is one way to show that you're developing this skill on your resume.
What soft skills should all Personal Care Assistants possess?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: Problem-solving is such an important skill. We need health care providers who think for themselves and attempt to answer their own questions, AND - that know how to balance that with asking for help when they need it.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Personal Care Assistants?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: Understanding documentation and electronic medical records are a must-have in health care these days!
What skills will help Personal Care Assistants earn the most?
Megan Harvey Ph.D.: The highest earners are probably those who know how to set themselves apart from their peers and who are warm and approachable to their patients. You can't fake being a good health care provider, and you won't be a high earner in this field unless you're good at what you do. There's no shortcut for putting the time and effort in that it takes to truly care about getting the best outcome possible for your patient.
Comora Sarah
Assistant Clinical ProfessorMerrimack College
Nursing Department
What skills stand out on Personal Care Assistant resumes?
Comora Sarah: Experience in the industry, Dementia training, BLS certification
What soft skills should all Personal Care Assistants possess?
Comora Sarah: Ability to effectively communicate with all patients and interdisciplinary team members, willing to be flexible with shifts and scheduling, a team player with a great work ethic.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Personal Care Assistants?
Comora Sarah: Ability to accurately take and record vital signs, safe patient mobility practice, and ability to assist clients with activities of daily living.
What skills will help Personal Care Assistants earn the most?
Comora Sarah: CNA are paid differently across the industry and in different settings. From an education and training perspective in CNA onboarding, it is more beneficial to an organization to hire candidates that have demonstrated the soft set of skills mentioned. The theory is that in the position of Certified Nursing Assistant, hard skills can be taught, and competency can be achieved after hire if you have the right candidate for your organization and team.
What skills stand out on Personal Care Assistant resumes?
Marina Orobinskaia: Experience, good program attended.
What soft skills should all Personal Care Assistants possess?
Marina Orobinskaia: Friendliness, positive energy, leadership.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Personal Care Assistants?
Marina Orobinskaia: There are no more or less important skills. You need to learn all of them to excellence and what is most important - use your critical thinking when you do them.
What skills will help Personal Care Assistants earn the most?
Marina Orobinskaia: Additional job training type certifications were added to the original Nursing Assistant, such as nursing delegation, phlebotomy, medication pass.