How to Become a Home Health Aide in Iowa (2026)

Q: How long does home health aide training take in Iowa?

Most people become a Home Health Aide in Iowa through a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required.

Q: How much do home health aides earn in Iowa?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), home health aides in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $36,080. Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.60 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for home health aides in Iowa?

Iowa currently employs approximately 25,800 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Iowa home health and personal care aides earn a median annual wage of $36,080 ($17.34/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 25,800 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.8% above the national median of $35,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $36,080 ($17.34/hr)
25th percentile: $33,570 per year
75th percentile: $39,630 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $45,490 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $30,420 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 25,800
Versus national median: 0.8% above the U.S. median of $35,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.60 - this occupation is less concentrated in Iowa than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Iowa employs about 25,800 home health aides earning a median $36,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Home Health Aide here means completing a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Key Facts

Median wage (Iowa): $36,080/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Iowa: 25,800 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.60x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 17.0% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Home Health Aide Schools in Iowa

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	South Central College	60.0	Contact school for pricing	$52,003	34%	Yes*	128 mi
2	Marshalltown Community College	59.9	Contact school for pricing	$52,110	Not reported	Yes*	34 mi
3	Iowa Lakes Community College	59.8	Contact school for pricing	$47,158	Not reported	Yes*	105 mi
4	Southwestern Community College	57.2	$8,064 - $16,951	$51,650	56%	Yes*	109 mi
5	Northeast Iowa Community College	56.6	$6,780 - $17,838	$50,002	50%	Yes*	88 mi
6	Kirkwood Community College	56.3	Contact school for pricing	$48,663	Not reported	Yes*	90 mi
7	Indian Hills Community College	56.1	Contact school for pricing	$50,322	Not reported	Yes*	105 mi
8	Hawkeye Community College	54.6	Contact school for pricing	$49,163	38%	Yes*	48 mi
9	Iowa Central Community College	54.0	Contact school for pricing	$46,682	Not reported	Yes*	48 mi
10	Minnesota State College Southeast	51.4	Contact school for pricing	$51,496	49%	Yes*	139 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Iowa employs approximately 25,800 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,080 ¹. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 765,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Home Health Aide in Iowa, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: state-approved home health aide program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required
Exam: HHA competency evaluation
Median wage (Iowa): $36,080 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Health Aide in Iowa

How to become a Home Health Aide in Iowa? Complete a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Iowa? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do home health aides earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for home health aides in Iowa is $36,080 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,420 and experienced professionals can earn $45,490 or more ¹.

How to Become a Home Health Aide in Iowa

Meet entry rules. Confirm age, background-check, and health-screening rules with the training program and the employer.
Complete a state-approved HHA program. Finish an approved home health aide program in Iowa. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass the competency evaluation. Complete the skills and knowledge evaluation the state uses for HHAs.
Get certified or listed. Get listed or certified as an HHA where the state uses that credential. Do not treat a CNA listing as the HHA credential. Confirm with the employer.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Home Health Aide License Requirements in Iowa

Home health aides in Iowa complete an approved HHA program and competency evaluation. Some states certify this role; most do not. Confirm with the employer when a state credential exists.

Typical path

Meet entry rules.
Complete a state-approved HHA program.
Pass the competency evaluation.
Obtain HHA certification or listing from the employer.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Iowa vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	7,480	$36,450	$38,130	$31,850	$44,630
Des Moines-West Des Moines	6,210	$36,350	$36,820	$30,800	$44,520
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	2,280	$34,370	$35,410	$29,900	$44,260
Cedar Rapids	2,260	$35,370	$36,650	$29,850	$46,390
Iowa City	1,780	$35,630	$36,180	$30,240	$44,590
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	1,320	$36,510	$36,830	$27,360	$46,380
Sioux City	1,230	$36,580	$37,110	$29,830	$45,610
Dubuque	1,020	$38,090	$39,090	$32,220	$46,220
Ames	700	$35,660	$37,000	$32,030	$44,980

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for home health aides in Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 25,800 home health aides ¹. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a home health aide in Iowa with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

What training programs are available in Iowa? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Iowa.

How much do home health aides earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Iowa is $36,080, which is $1,180 above the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data ¹.

In Iowa

Best Trade Schools in Iowa (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Iowa

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)