Home Health and Personal Care Aides salary in Ames, IA
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $35,660 a year ($17.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 700 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,980 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $35,800. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $36,080. There are 13 home health and personal care aides per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $37,000, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for home health and personal care aides in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,030 | $15.40 |
| 25th percentile | $33,750 | $16.22 |
| Median | $35,660 | $17.14 |
| 75th percentile | $40,120 | $19.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,980 | $21.62 |
| Average (mean) | $37,000 | $17.79 |
Half of home health and personal care aides earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,971.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,485.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,371.54 |
| Weekly | $685.77 |
| Hourly | $17.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Home Health and Personal Care Aides salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $38,090 | 1,020 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,580 | 1,230 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $36,510 | 1,320 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $36,450 | 7,480 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,350 | 6,210 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,630 | 1,780 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,370 | 2,260 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $34,370 | 2,280 |
Highest-paying states for home health and personal care aides
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $47,730 |
| Oregon | $44,410 |
| Rhode Island | $43,680 |
| District of Columbia | $42,700 |
| Vermont | $41,600 |
| Massachusetts | $40,910 |
| Alaska | $39,740 |
| New York | $39,620 |
| North Dakota | $39,440 |
| Connecticut | $38,990 |
See Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Assistant | $43,540 | $20.93 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,810 | $22.02 |
| Dental Assistant | $49,140 | $23.63 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| Phlebotomist | $38,240 | $18.39 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $62,040 | $29.83 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-1120. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aides make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for home health and personal care aides in the Ames, IA metro area is $35,660 a year, or $17.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid home health and personal care aides make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of home health and personal care aides in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $44,980 a year. The top 25% earn $40,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for home health and personal care aides in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,030 a year, and a quarter of home health and personal care aides earn $33,750 or less.
How many home health and personal care aides work in Ames, IA?
About 700 home health and personal care aides are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.