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Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

Are care workers among the lowest-paid workers in the country?

Gabriel Vinocur, Econofact
yes

Care workers earn significantly less than the median U.S. income and consistently rank near the bottom of occupational pay lists.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a home health and personal care aid in 2024 was $34,900. The median annual wage for a U.S. worker was $49,500. A BLS study found that “the care worker wage is about 20% lower than other jobs requiring little or no preparation.” 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that care workers work unstable hours, are subject to pressure from patients’ family members in the work environment, and sustain emotional distress from working with those that are sick or dying. 

BLS finds that 27.2% of personal care aides were foreign-born, compared to 18.6% in all occupations. Black workers make up 25.3% of the care workforce compared to 12.8% in the general economy.

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