How Much Does a Home Health Aide Make in North Carolina in 2026?

A typical Home Health Aide in North Carolina earns about $15.02 per hour ($31,240 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). When calculated from the annual figure, that equals roughly $2,603 per month or $601 per week. These baseline earnings reflect full-time schedules before taxes and voluntary deductions. Actual take-home pay fluctuates based on weekly authorized patient hours.

Statewide compensation sits 13% below the national benchmark of $17.21 hourly, or $35,800 annually. This places North Carolina at rank 39 among 51 states and territories nationwide. Lower pay usually tracks lower living costs found throughout the region. The state supports 58,880 working aides, contributing to a national workforce of 4,305,810 caregivers.

Entry-level positions in North Carolina typically offer around $11.87 per hour, which translates to $24,690 annually. Newer workers in the 25th percentile generally see their pay increase to $13.65 hourly, or $28,400 per year. Pay steadily moves toward the typical figure within a few years of hands-on client care. Early career wages establish a reliable foundation for newly credentialed aides.

Experienced Home Health Aides often earn upwards of $17.08 hourly, or $35,520 annually. The top 10% of earners make over $18.60 per hour, bringing in $38,680 per year. That creates an entry-to-top spread of $13,990 across the state. Care setting, years of experience, and metropolitan location separate these earning tiers.

The recorded multi-year tracking trend shows steady wage expansion across North Carolina care agencies. In 2019, baseline pay stood at $21,440 annually before climbing through consecutive reporting cycles to reach $31,240 in 2025. That trajectory represents a dollar gain of $9,800 over the period. In total, annual wages saw a 46% rise across the state.

This upward movement outpaced the national decade rise of 42% over a comparable evaluation timeframe. Steady gains across recent years indicate that entry and experienced wage levels have strengthened over time. Pay has moved up historically, though past trajectories provide no guarantees for future hiring cycles. Compensation changes reflect general market adjustments among home care providers.

Earnings vary widely across metropolitan regions, which reflect full metro area boundaries in government reports. Goldsboro sits at the top with typical annual pay of $38,300 ($18.41 hourly), running 23% above the statewide benchmark. Charlotte follows closely at $33,680 annually, while Durham and Chapel Hill both record $33,630. Urban hubs often provide higher compensation rates to align with local living conditions.

Norfolk marks the lowest-paying metro area in the state dataset at $28,420 ($13.66 hourly), creating a city spread of $9,880. Chesapeake accounts for the largest workforce with 13,650 employed aides while sharing that same baseline wage. Regional pay differences generally track local housing and transportation expenses. Aides in larger cities often face higher day-to-day living costs.

North Carolina typical pay of $31,240 trails Tennessee, where aides earn $32,130 annually, or 3% higher. In contrast, Virginia pays $30,300 (3% lower), South Carolina pays $30,110 (4% lower), and Georgia sits lowest at $29,270 (6% lower). Regional wage differences remain modest across these southern borders. Licensure in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one.

Home Health Aides in North Carolina earn a typical figure of $31,240 annually, following a 46% rise over recent tracking years. While state wages trail the national standard, local earnings reflect prevailing living expenses. Practical next steps include visiting the state licensing or registry page for credentialing requirements and reviewing city pages for localized wage details.