Home Health and Personal Care Aide Salary in Chicago, IL
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $38,180 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,113 take-home, or $2,593 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median home health and personal care aide salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,402
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,367
- Medicare (1.45%)$554
- Illinois income tax$1,745
- Take-home pay$31,113
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Home Health and Personal Care Aide pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,030 | $16.84 | $28,737 | $2,395 |
| 25th percentile | $37,160 | $17.87 | $30,343 | $2,529 |
| Median (50th) | $38,180 | $18.36 | $31,113 | $2,593 |
| 75th percentile | $38,750 | $18.63 | $31,542 | $2,629 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,500 | $20.43 | $34,370 | $2,864 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,180 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median home health and personal care aide's $31,113 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,033 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 about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for home health and personal care aides, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #85 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 |
| 85 | Chicago, IL | $38,180 | $31,113 | $30,033 |
*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 Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $36,330
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aide make in Chicago, IL?
The median home health and personal care aide salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,180 a year, or about $18.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,160 and $38,750.
What is a home health and personal care aide’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $38,180 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $31,113 a year ($2,593 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,745 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a home health and personal care aide?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $35,800. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,033 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #85 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a home health and personal care aide afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 59% 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 Chicago, IL
- Physical Therapist Assistant — $72,230
- Massage Therapist — $61,200
- Dental Assistant — $48,950
- Medical Assistant — $47,270
- Phlebotomist — $47,190
- Nursing Assistant — $46,940