Home Health and Personal Care Aide Salary in Reading, PA
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median $29,830 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,233 take-home, or $2,103 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median home health and personal care aide salary in Reading, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,400
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,849
- Medicare (1.45%)$433
- Pennsylvania income tax$916
- Take-home pay$25,233
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% 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 Reading, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,260 | $12.63 | $22,429 | $1,869 |
| 25th percentile | $28,250 | $13.58 | $24,007 | $2,001 |
| Median (50th) | $29,830 | $14.34 | $25,233 | $2,103 |
| 75th percentile | $35,000 | $16.83 | $29,228 | $2,436 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,430 | $18.48 | $31,879 | $2,657 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,830 buys in Reading, PA
Prices in Reading, PA are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median home health and personal care aide's $25,233 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,997 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Reading, PA has 1.2× the national concentration of home health and personal care aide jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for home health and personal care aides, adjusted for cost of living
Reading, PA ranks #151 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 |
| 151 | Reading, PA | $29,830 | $25,233 | $25,997 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- York, PA — $32,690
- Scranton, PA — $29,460
- Pittsburgh, PA — $29,250
- Erie, PA — $27,860
- Allentown, PA — $30,380
- Lancaster, PA — $29,150
- Harrisburg, PA — $29,050
- Philadelphia, PA — $29,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aide make in Reading, PA?
The median home health and personal care aide salary in the Reading, PA metro area is $29,830 a year, or about $14.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,250 and $35,000.
What is a home health and personal care aide’s take-home pay in Reading, PA?
On the median $29,830 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $25,233 a year ($2,103 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $916 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Reading, PA a good place to work as a home health and personal care aide?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $35,800. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,997 would in a typical U.S. city. Reading, PA ranks #151 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a home health and personal care aide afford rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reading, PA is $1,237 a month ($1,575 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%.