How to Become A Home Health Aide in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania employs approximately 257,370 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $29,420 1. The state’s concentration of home health aide jobs is 1.53x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Pennsylvania, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in Pennsylvania
How do I become a home health aide in Pennsylvania? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for home health aides in Pennsylvania.
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.
What do home health aides earn in Pennsylvania? The median annual wage for home health aides in Pennsylvania is $29,420 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,510 and experienced professionals can earn $37,960 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Median wage (Pennsylvania): $29,420 per year 1
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Pennsylvania vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | 158,280 | $29,800 | $32,250 | $28,250 | $38,710 |
| Pittsburgh | 37,200 | $29,250 | $31,340 | $23,980 | $38,590 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | 13,040 | $29,050 | $30,720 | $26,260 | $37,310 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | 12,030 | $30,380 | $32,680 | $27,970 | $41,340 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | 9,970 | $29,460 | $31,060 | $25,020 | $38,390 |
| Lancaster | 6,990 | $29,150 | $31,670 | $27,290 | $39,220 |
| Erie | 6,640 | $27,860 | $29,430 | $23,780 | $37,530 |
| Reading | 5,820 | $29,830 | $31,930 | $26,260 | $38,430 |
| York-Hanover | 3,400 | $32,690 | $33,890 | $26,840 | $43,020 |
| Altoona | 1,800 | $27,390 | $30,120 | $23,350 | $37,260 |
| Williamsport | 1,750 | $28,540 | $30,600 | $24,340 | $38,260 |
| Johnstown | 1,740 | $28,930 | $30,840 | $22,890 | $37,770 |
| State College | 1,380 | $29,950 | $32,100 | $26,640 | $38,070 |
| Chambersburg | 1,200 | $31,150 | $31,980 | $26,430 | $39,980 |
| Lebanon | 1,000 | $30,090 | $32,360 | $27,290 | $42,870 |
| Gettysburg | 350 | $34,240 | $33,920 | $26,870 | $44,430 |
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 Pennsylvania
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Pennsylvania according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | 158,280 | $29,800 |
| Pittsburgh | 37,200 | $29,250 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | 13,040 | $29,050 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | 12,030 | $30,380 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre | 9,970 | $29,460 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 257,370 home health aides 1. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.
What training programs are available in Pennsylvania? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Pennsylvania.
How much do home health aides earn in Pennsylvania compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Pennsylvania is $29,420, which is $5,480 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |