How to Become A Home Health Aide in Massachusetts
Massachusetts employs approximately 117,940 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $40,910 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 Massachusetts, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in Massachusetts
How do I become a home health aide in Massachusetts? Massachusetts requires credentials such as NURSE AIDE. The licensing authority is the Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Massachusetts? Yes. Massachusetts has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. See the licensing section below for details.
What do home health aides earn in Massachusetts? The median annual wage for home health aides in Massachusetts is $40,910 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,960 and experienced professionals can earn $46,700 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality
- Median wage (Massachusetts): $40,910 per year 1
- Exam requirement: Third-party exam required
Home Health Aide License Requirements in Massachusetts
The Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality oversees home health aide licensing in Massachusetts.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| NURSE AIDE | The Nurse Aide Registry Program approves and monitors nurse aide training programs, oversees the nurse aide competency evaluation program, operates the Nurse Aide Registry, renews the registration of… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: Third-party exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 3.
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Massachusetts vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | 72,420 | $40,910 | $42,240 | $36,810 | $47,410 |
| Springfield | 15,840 | $40,860 | $40,930 | $36,840 | $44,340 |
| Providence-Warwick | 15,670 | $40,890 | $42,200 | $35,960 | $46,620 |
| Worcester | 14,720 | $40,870 | $42,620 | $37,010 | $47,740 |
| Pittsfield | 2,540 | $40,160 | $40,710 | $36,990 | $45,390 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | 2,350 | $41,700 | $42,520 | $37,470 | $47,560 |
| Barnstable Town | 2,300 | $42,520 | $42,470 | $37,840 | $46,830 |
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 2025.
Top Metros for Home health aides in Massachusetts
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Massachusetts according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | 72,420 | $40,910 |
| Springfield | 15,840 | $40,860 |
| Worcester | 14,720 | $40,870 |
| Pittsfield | 2,540 | $40,160 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | 2,350 | $41,700 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in Massachusetts? Massachusetts currently employs approximately 117,940 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 Massachusetts with an out-of-state license? Contact the Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Massachusetts? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Massachusetts.
How much do home health aides earn in Massachusetts compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Massachusetts is $40,910, which is $6,010 above the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data 1.
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
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) |