How much does private home care cost per hour?
Private home care costs $30 to $45 an hour in 2026. What changes your price is below.
CareScout's Cost of Care Survey, released March 2, 2026, puts the national median for a non medical caregiver at $35 an hour, up 3 percent. At 44 hours a week that is $80,080 a year. Most families budget $30 to $45 an hour once their state and shifts are added.
Find out what it will cost you
Pick the job, your state's cost level and the last detail. The estimate updates as you change them.
An estimate built from published 2026 cost guides. It is not a quote. Get a written quote before work starts.
How much does private home care cost per hour?
| National median, non medical caregiver | $35 an hour (CareScout 2025 survey). |
|---|---|
| Full time, 44 hours a week | About $6,670 a month, $80,080 a year. |
| State range | About $25 to $44 an hour. |
| 24 hour care | $15,000 to $20,000 or more a month. |
| Visiting Angels, examples | $26 to $44 an hour by office (The Senior List). |
| Doctor ordered skilled home health | Can be $0 with Medicare if you qualify. |
What pushes a quote up
| State | The Northeast costs the most; the South the least. |
|---|---|
| Hours | Short visits can cost more per hour. |
| Nights and weekends | Often cost more. |
| Care level | Dementia care costs more. |
| Agency or private hire | Agencies handle payroll and backups. |
Home care cost by region
| Lower cost states | $25 to $35. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas. |
|---|---|
| Average cost states | $30 to $45. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities. |
| Higher cost states | $40 to $60. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC. |
These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Metro areas often run 10 to 15 percent above the state median.
How much does 24 hour home care cost?
Round the clock care means paying for 24 hours a day, usually with caregivers in shifts. At about $30 an hour, that is $15,000 to $20,000 or more a month. At that level, a care facility often costs less for the same help.
How much does Visiting Angels cost?
Visiting Angels is a franchise, so each office sets its own price. The Senior List found $26 to $28 an hour at one Florida office for 20 or more hours a week, $35 to $40 for short flexible visits, and $40 to $44 at an Arizona office. FeeGuides.com is not linked to Visiting Angels.
What Medicare pays
Medicare does not pay for ongoing help with daily tasks. It can pay for skilled home health care a doctor orders if you qualify. Medicaid waivers and VA benefits may help with personal care.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Ask the hourly rate for your exact schedule.
- Ask the minimum hours per visit and per week.
- Ask about night and weekend rates.
- Ask if caregivers are employees, insured and screened.
- Ask how backups work.
Ways to pay less
- Book longer, fewer shifts to avoid minimums.
- Check Medicaid, VA and long term care insurance.
- Mix family help with paid hours.
- Compare two or three agencies.
- Compare a facility if care is round the clock.
Before you decide
Ask for the agency's care plan in writing. It should list tasks, hours, the caregiver's training and who to call after hours.
About $30 to $45, with a $35 national median. About $80,080 at 44 hours a week at the median. About $15,000 to $20,000 or more a month. Each office sets its own rate; examples run $26 to $44 an hour.Common questions
How much does private home care cost per hour?
How much does home care cost a year?
How much does 24 hour home care cost?
How much does Visiting Angels cost?
Other service costs