Personal Care Aide

Explore This Path

Make a difference by assisting those in need with daily personal care tasks.
Enhance lives by providing essential support and companionship to individuals.
Work in diverse settings, from homes to community centers, offering unique experiences.

💰 Earn $34K-$36K

📚 NO DEGREE REQUIRED

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 17% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation). May also provide help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry. Work is performed in various settings depending on the needs of the care recipient and may include locations such as their home, place of work, out in the community, or at a daytime nonresidential facility.

Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.
Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.
Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.

Scoop

Minimum Education

None

Career Prospects

Excellent (Increasing by 5% or more)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

765,800 Annually

Median Earnings

$34,600 in California

$34,900 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

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$225K

$250K

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Relating with or serving others
Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Service Orientation
Social Perceptiveness
Speaking

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having support
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Personal Care Aide

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Workforce Development Program

A workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Find Training Near You

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Learn More About The Industry

Healthcare

The primary activities of this group involve delivering medical care and support to patients, including diagnosing illness, treating injuries, administering medication, assisting with daily living activities, and completing corresponding administrative tasks.