Home Health and Personal Care Aide Salary in Durham, NC
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $33,630 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,369 take-home, or $2,364 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median home health and personal care aide salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,856
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,085
- Medicare (1.45%)$488
- North Carolina income tax$833
- Take-home pay$28,369
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Home Health and Personal Care Aide pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,770 | $13.35 | $23,879 | $1,990 |
| 25th percentile | $30,110 | $14.48 | $25,681 | $2,140 |
| Median (50th) | $33,630 | $16.17 | $28,369 | $2,364 |
| 75th percentile | $36,450 | $17.52 | $30,522 | $2,543 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,850 | $20.12 | $34,645 | $2,887 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,630 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median home health and personal care aide's $28,369 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,075 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Home Health and Personal Care Aide jobs are less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.30), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for home health and personal care aides, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #103 of 180 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grants Pass, OR | $53,120 | $41,044 | $41,984 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $47,810 | $40,595 | $40,563 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $47,410 | $40,274 | $40,135 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $44,490 | $37,928 | $39,696 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,210 | $40,917 | $36,818 |
| 6 | Bellingham, WA | $44,080 | $37,598 | $36,385 |
| 7 | Olympia, WA | $44,060 | $37,582 | $36,252 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $37,910 | $32,641 | $35,920 |
| 103 | Durham, NC | $33,630 | $28,369 | $29,075 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 180 metros →
About the job: home health and personal care aides
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Home Health and Personal Care Aide salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $33,680
- Winston, NC — $30,400
- Raleigh, NC — $32,570
- Wilmington, NC — $31,540
- Greensboro, NC — $29,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aide make in Durham, NC?
The median home health and personal care aide salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $33,630 a year, or about $16.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,110 and $36,450.
What is a home health and personal care aide’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $33,630 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $28,369 a year ($2,364 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $833 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a home health and personal care aide?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $35,800. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,075 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #103 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a home health and personal care aide afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median home health and personal care aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Nursing Assistant — $40,560