How to Become A Home Health Aide in Washington
Washington employs approximately 103,260 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,730 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 Washington, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Health Aide in Washington
How to become a home health aide in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Nursing Assistant. The licensing authority is the Department of Health 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 85 hours of experience (roughly 0.0 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. The Department of Health oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do home health aides earn in Washington? The median annual wage for home health aides in Washington is $47,730 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $40,130 and experienced professionals can earn $54,980 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: Department of Health
- Median wage (Washington): $47,730 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Home Health Aide License Requirements in Washington
The Department of Health oversees home health aide licensing in Washington 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant | Individuals must have a minimum of 85 hours of training through a state approved program, must pass the state competency examination, list states where credentials were granted and were applied for, p… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: Background check required
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Washington
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Washington vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 54,670 | $48,210 | $49,500 | $44,190 | $54,980 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 50,450 | $38,530 | $39,110 | $30,670 | $46,080 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 22,860 | $45,570 | $46,350 | $39,120 | $52,900 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 10,580 | $47,410 | $47,030 | $38,670 | $48,630 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 4,800 | $47,810 | $47,170 | $38,610 | $48,170 |
| Yakima | 4,770 | $44,490 | $44,130 | $38,170 | $45,070 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | 3,370 | $44,060 | $44,760 | $37,840 | $47,480 |
| Bellingham | 2,350 | $44,080 | $45,020 | $38,240 | $48,080 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | 2,130 | $46,980 | $48,030 | $42,560 | $49,250 |
| Longview-Kelso | 1,780 | $47,840 | $47,100 | $39,580 | $48,040 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | 1,200 | $42,690 | $43,070 | $36,390 | $50,630 |
| Walla Walla | 1,160 | $47,700 | $46,000 | $37,750 | $47,700 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | 1,120 | $47,730 | $47,200 | $39,360 | $48,380 |
| Lewiston | 870 | $36,400 | $38,000 | $29,190 | $48,150 |
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 .
Top Metros for Home health aides in Washington
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Washington according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 54,670 | $48,210 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 10,580 | $47,410 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 4,800 | $47,810 |
| Yakima | 4,770 | $44,490 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | 3,370 | $44,060 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 103,260 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 Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Washington? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Washington.
How much do home health aides earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Washington is $47,730, which is $12,830 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Health - Licensing Information: http://www.doh.wa.gov ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |