Personal Care Aides
O*NET 31-1122.00 · SOC 31-1122
Personal Care Aide is a strong career choice. Median pay is $36k a year with +18.1% projected growth through 2035 (much faster than average) and about 760,500 openings a year. AI exposure: Low.
Bureau of Labor Statistics projections 2025–2035 · Data updated 2026-07-27
What You'd Actually Do
- →Help clients dress, bathe, and manage daily personal routines
- →Accompany clients on errands, walks, and community outings
- →Provide companionship and engage clients in conversation or activities
- →Light housekeeping tasks such as laundry and tidying living spaces
- →Remind clients to take medications and follow care plans
Education & How to Get In
Personal Care Aide roles typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, with most training happening on the job. This makes it one of the more accessible career paths, you can often start working while earning certifications or completing short-term training programs.
Get Started Learning
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Work Environment
People-facing, clinics, schools, or client sites
Collaborative, frequent interaction with teams, clients, or patients
A Day in the Life
While every role varies by employer and specialization, a typical day as a Personal Care Aide involves a mix of core responsibilities:
Personality Fit (RIASEC)
Who Thrives as Personal Care Aide?
Based on the interests and work style this role actually demands, these personality types tend to fit it best. Salary and growth tell you if a career is worth entering; personality fit tells you whether you'll still want it in five years.
Not sure which you are? Take the 7-minute quiz →
See Open Personal Care Aide Roles
Browse live openings to get a feel for requirements and pay in your area.
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Job Outlook
Employment of Personal Care Aides is projected to grow 18.1% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average for all occupations. The BLS flags this as a Bright Outlook occupation.
Will AI Replace This Job?
- ·46% social/interpersonal tasks, hard for AI to replace
- ·Industry sector with low automation exposure
- ·Strong projected growth suggests AI-complementary demand
Scored from the mix of routine, creative, physical and social tasks the role involves, adjusted for sector and projected growth. An estimate, not a forecast.
Common Questions
How much does a Personal Care Aide make?
The median Personal Care Aide earns $36k a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage data. Half earn more than that and half earn less, and pay varies considerably by state, industry and experience.
Will AI replace Personal Care Aide jobs?
Our model puts Personal Care Aide at 23 out of 100 for automation exposure, which is low risk, AI-resistant. The main drivers: 46% social/interpersonal tasks, hard for AI to replace; industry sector with low automation exposure.
Is Personal Care Aide a growing field?
Employment is projected to grow 18.1% between 2025 and 2035, which is much faster than average. That works out to roughly 760,500 openings a year, counting both new positions and people leaving the occupation.
What degree do you need to be a Personal Care Aide?
Most Personal Care Aide roles need a high school diploma or equivalent, with training happening on the job. A degree is not the usual route in.
How long does it take to become a Personal Care Aide?
Typically under a year, usually a high school diploma plus short training. O*NET classes this role as Job Zone 2 of 5, which describes how much preparation people in it usually have.
Is a Personal Care Aide career right for you?
Your personality, values, and strengths matter as much as the job market. Take the quiz to see your personalized Future-Fit Score for this career and hundreds more.
Take the assessment →No account required · Matches are paid · 7 minutes