How to Become A Home Health Aide in North Carolina
North Carolina employs approximately 58,880 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $31,240 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 North Carolina, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in North Carolina
How do I become a home health aide in North Carolina? North Carolina requires credentials such as Nurse Aide II, Nurse Aide I. The licensing authority is the NC Board of Nursing 3. 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 North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. The NC Board of Nursing oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do home health aides earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for home health aides in North Carolina is $31,240 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $24,690 and experienced professionals can earn $38,680 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: NC Board of Nursing
- Median wage (North Carolina): $31,240 per year 1
- Exam requirement: No exam required
Home Health Aide License Requirements in North Carolina
The NC Board of Nursing oversees home health aide licensing in North Carolina 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Nurse Aide II | Nurse Aides Work Under The Supervision Of Nursing And Medical Staff. They Respond To Patients’ Calls, Serve Meals, Make Beds, And Assist Patients In Eating, Dressing, And Bathing. |
| Nurse Aide I | A nurse aide is an unlicensed health care professional providing nursing or nursing-related services for monetary compensation under the direct supervision of a registered nurse to residents in a long… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: No exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in North Carolina vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | 13,650 | $28,420 | $30,690 | $26,090 | $37,190 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 13,520 | $33,680 | $33,500 | $26,920 | $41,560 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 6,970 | $32,570 | $33,330 | $27,060 | $39,430 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 4,620 | $29,440 | $31,120 | $24,240 | $37,430 |
| Winston-Salem | 3,480 | $30,400 | $31,980 | $24,620 | $37,970 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 2,840 | $33,630 | $33,970 | $27,770 | $41,850 |
| Wilmington | 2,650 | $31,540 | $32,500 | $27,060 | $38,790 |
| Asheville | 2,280 | $33,280 | $33,810 | $28,700 | $42,950 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | 2,040 | $30,490 | $31,330 | $23,570 | $37,380 |
| Fayetteville | 1,770 | $29,150 | $30,450 | $22,880 | $36,570 |
| Greenville | 1,560 | $30,620 | $31,570 | $24,250 | $35,680 |
| Goldsboro | 1,190 | $38,300 | $34,610 | $26,770 | $38,300 |
| Rocky Mount | 890 | $28,910 | $30,390 | $22,420 | $38,000 |
| Burlington | 870 | $30,420 | $32,000 | $24,620 | $37,930 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | 560 | $28,850 | $30,580 | $23,930 | $37,350 |
| Jacksonville | 500 | $31,400 | $32,090 | $22,500 | $39,220 |
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 North Carolina
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within North Carolina according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 13,520 | $33,680 |
| Raleigh-Cary | 6,970 | $32,570 |
| Greensboro-High Point | 4,620 | $29,440 |
| Winston-Salem | 3,480 | $30,400 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | 2,840 | $33,630 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 58,880 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 North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the NC Board of Nursing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in North Carolina.
How much do home health aides earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in North Carolina is $31,240, which is $3,660 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NC Board of Nursing - Licensing Information: https://www.ncbon.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |