Free calculator · for home care agencies
What should you charge per hour for home care?
Start from what you pay caregivers, add what it really costs to employ them and run the office, and see the hourly rate that leaves you a profit. Move any number and the answer updates instantly.
Charge at least
$31.30 / hour
Quote $31.50. Break-even is $27.29 — below that, every hour loses money.
$1,252
profit a week at 400 hours
$5,425
profit a month
Pay well, then hire fast
A higher wage brings applicants. Hirecise ranks every caregiver who applies, so you call the best ones first.
Home care rates by state
The rate to charge in each state if you pay the state's median caregiver wage and use the calculator's standard costs. Choose a state for the full breakdown.
| State | Median caregiver pay | Break-even rate | Rate for 10% profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $17.21 | $27.29 | $31.30 |
| Alabama | $13.39 | $21.23 | $24.35 |
| Alaska | $19.11 | $30.30 | $34.75 |
| Arizona | $17.51 | $27.76 | $31.84 |
| Arkansas | $13.30 | $21.09 | $24.19 |
| California | $16.50 | $26.16 | $30.01 |
| Colorado | $18.53 | $29.38 | $33.70 |
| Connecticut | $18.75 | $29.73 | $34.10 |
| Delaware | $16.50 | $26.16 | $30.01 |
| District of Columbia | $20.53 | $32.55 | $37.34 |
| Florida | $16.25 | $25.76 | $29.55 |
| Georgia | $14.07 | $22.31 | $25.59 |
| Hawaii | $18.32 | $29.05 | $33.32 |
| Idaho | $16.72 | $26.51 | $30.41 |
| Illinois | $18.30 | $29.01 | $33.28 |
| Indiana | $16.86 | $26.73 | $30.66 |
| Iowa | $17.34 | $27.49 | $31.53 |
| Kansas | $15.03 | $23.83 | $27.33 |
| Kentucky | $17.52 | $27.78 | $31.86 |
| Louisiana | $10.83 | $17.17 | $19.70 |
| Maine | $18.55 | $29.41 | $33.74 |
| Maryland | $18.29 | $29.00 | $33.26 |
| Massachusetts | $19.67 | $31.19 | $35.77 |
| Michigan | $16.83 | $26.68 | $30.61 |
| Minnesota | $18.45 | $29.25 | $33.55 |
| Mississippi | $11.47 | $18.19 | $20.86 |
| Missouri | $15.90 | $25.21 | $28.92 |
| Montana | $17.61 | $27.92 | $32.03 |
| Nebraska | $17.38 | $27.56 | $31.61 |
| Nevada | $16.19 | $25.67 | $29.44 |
| New Hampshire | $18.64 | $29.55 | $33.90 |
| New Jersey | $17.83 | $28.27 | $32.43 |
| New Mexico | $13.71 | $21.74 | $24.93 |
| New York | $19.05 | $30.20 | $34.64 |
| North Carolina | $15.02 | $23.81 | $27.32 |
| North Dakota | $18.96 | $30.06 | $34.48 |
| Ohio | $16.57 | $26.27 | $30.13 |
| Oklahoma | $13.32 | $21.12 | $24.22 |
| Oregon | $21.35 | $33.85 | $38.83 |
| Pennsylvania | $14.14 | $22.42 | $25.72 |
| Rhode Island | $21.00 | $33.29 | $38.19 |
| South Carolina | $14.48 | $22.96 | $26.33 |
| South Dakota | $18.15 | $28.78 | $33.01 |
| Tennessee | $15.45 | $24.50 | $28.10 |
| Texas | $11.65 | $18.47 | $21.19 |
| Utah | $17.25 | $27.35 | $31.37 |
| Vermont | $20.00 | $31.71 | $36.37 |
| Virginia | $14.57 | $23.10 | $26.50 |
| Washington | $22.95 | $36.39 | $41.74 |
| West Virginia | $13.47 | $21.36 | $24.50 |
| Wisconsin | $17.47 | $27.70 | $31.77 |
| Wyoming | $15.96 | $25.30 | $29.03 |
Caregiver pay: median hourly wage for home health and personal care aides, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Standard costs: 5% of hours at overtime, Social Security & Medicare 7.65%, unemployment insurance 3%, workers' comp 6%, benefits 4% of wages; overhead 22% and profit 10% of the rate. These are planning assumptions, not what agencies actually charge — use your own numbers in the calculator.
How to price home care without guessing
It's tempting to set your rate by looking at competitors. That tells you what the market will pay, not whether you make money at it. Price from the bottom up, then check it against the market.
1. Start with the wage that gets applicants
Your rate is set by your caregiver pay more than anything else. Pay below your state's median and job posts go quiet; see caregiver pay by state for what aides earn where you hire.
2. Add the cost of employing them
Every dollar of wages costs you more: 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare, unemployment insurance, workers' comp, and overtime — agency caregivers must be paid time and a half past 40 hours. Together these usually add 15–25% on top of pay.
3. Cover overhead, then profit
Schedulers, recruiters, rent, software, liability insurance and marketing come out of every billed hour. Set your profit target on top, not from what's left over.
4. Know your break-even — and your minimum visit
Below break-even, every hour you staff loses money. Many agencies also set a minimum shift (often 3–4 hours) because short visits cost the same to schedule and travel to.
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Common questions
How much should a home care agency charge per hour?
Work up from what you pay caregivers. At the U.S. median aide wage of $17.21 an hour, with typical payroll taxes, workers' comp, 22% overhead and a 10% profit, an agency needs to charge about $31.30 an hour. Break-even is about $27.29. Your own costs will differ, so enter them in the calculator.
What is a good profit margin for a home care agency?
Home care industry guides commonly put net profit for non-medical agencies somewhere around 5–15% of revenue. Gross margin — what's left after caregiver pay and payroll costs — is much higher, because overhead still has to come out of it. Use the calculator's "Check a rate" mode to see your own numbers.
What costs go into a home care bill rate?
Caregiver pay (including overtime), the employer's share of Social Security and Medicare (7.65%), federal and state unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, any PTO or mileage you pay, and overhead: office staff, rent, software, liability insurance and marketing. Profit comes on top.
Do home care agencies have to pay caregivers overtime?
Yes. Since 2015, federal rules require third-party employers such as home care agencies to pay overtime (time and a half) to home care workers for hours over 40 in a week, and to pay minimum wage. Some states add their own rules.
I bill Medicaid. Can I use this?
Yes. Medicaid rates are set by the state, so switch to "Check a rate" and enter the rate you're paid. The calculator shows what you keep per hour, and what you could afford to pay caregivers at that rate.
Where do the caregiver wages come from?
The state wages are median hourly pay for home health and personal care aides from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025. All other costs are planning assumptions you can change — they are not survey data.