How to Become a Home Health Aide in Texas (2026)
Texas employs about 329,590 home health aides earning a median $24,230 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.
Texas employs approximately 329,590 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $24,230 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 Texas, 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 (Texas): $24,230 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Health Aide in Texas
How to become a Home Health Aide in Texas? 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 Texas? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.
What do home health aides earn in Texas? The median annual wage for home health aides in Texas is $24,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $21,980 and experienced professionals can earn $31,560 or more 1.
How to Become a Home Health Aide in Texas
- 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 Texas. 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 Texas
Home health aides in Texas 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 Texas
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Texas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Texas vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | 63,820 | $23,440 | $25,830 | $22,240 | $31,920 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | 58,580 | $26,900 | $28,460 | $22,380 | $36,000 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | 46,380 | $23,960 | $24,490 | $22,170 | $26,220 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | 31,420 | $25,960 | $26,340 | $22,210 | $31,370 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | 21,990 | $23,500 | $24,510 | $20,910 | $26,770 |
| El Paso | 14,310 | $23,200 | $24,460 | $20,970 | $27,500 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | 12,490 | $28,370 | $29,310 | $22,880 | $36,910 |
| Laredo | 8,140 | $23,510 | $23,980 | $21,220 | $26,090 |
| Corpus Christi | 6,630 | $23,440 | $24,730 | $21,620 | $28,170 |
| Tyler | 5,450 | $23,980 | $25,150 | $21,640 | $28,110 |
| Lubbock | 3,590 | $23,310 | $25,860 | $20,520 | $33,320 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | 3,390 | $23,510 | $25,450 | $21,870 | $30,570 |
| Longview | 2,290 | $23,610 | $25,600 | $21,340 | $30,620 |
| Waco | 2,200 | $23,910 | $26,240 | $22,340 | $32,640 |
| Amarillo | 1,980 | $24,400 | $26,510 | $21,850 | $33,750 |
| Killeen-Temple | 1,950 | $22,940 | $25,330 | $21,760 | $31,540 |
| Abilene | 1,820 | $23,690 | $25,690 | $21,860 | $31,160 |
| Midland | 1,460 | $26,850 | $26,630 | $20,360 | $35,040 |
| Wichita Falls | 1,330 | $22,950 | $24,290 | $20,370 | $28,340 |
| College Station-Bryan | 1,270 | $24,610 | $26,220 | $22,070 | $32,980 |
| Sherman-Denison | 1,250 | $26,980 | $27,250 | $21,480 | $35,580 |
| Texarkana | 1,160 | $24,630 | $25,160 | $21,020 | $31,850 |
| Odessa | 950 | $27,670 | $27,160 | $21,370 | $33,040 |
| San Angelo | 880 | $27,430 | $27,970 | $21,430 | $35,250 |
| Victoria | 650 | $24,890 | $25,120 | $21,570 | $29,680 |
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 Texas? Texas currently employs approximately 329,590 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 Texas with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.
What training programs are available in Texas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Texas.
How much do home health aides earn in Texas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Texas is $24,230, which is $10,670 below the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data 1.
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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) |