Home Health and Personal Care Aide Salary in Wilmington, NC
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median $31,540 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,773 take-home, or $2,231 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median home health and personal care aide salary in Wilmington, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,605
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,955
- Medicare (1.45%)$457
- North Carolina income tax$750
- Take-home pay$26,773
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 Wilmington, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,060 | $13.01 | $23,323 | $1,944 |
| 25th percentile | $28,590 | $13.75 | $24,520 | $2,043 |
| Median (50th) | $31,540 | $15.16 | $26,773 | $2,231 |
| 75th percentile | $35,090 | $16.87 | $29,483 | $2,457 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,790 | $18.65 | $32,309 | $2,692 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,540 buys in Wilmington, NC
Prices in Wilmington, NC are 3.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median home health and personal care aide's $26,773 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,766 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 Wilmington, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.50), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for home health and personal care aides, adjusted for cost of living
Wilmington, NC ranks #123 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 |
| 123 | Wilmington, NC | $31,540 | $26,773 | $27,766 |
*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
- Durham, NC — $33,630
- Winston, NC — $30,400
- Raleigh, NC — $32,570
- Greensboro, NC — $29,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aide make in Wilmington, NC?
The median home health and personal care aide salary in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $31,540 a year, or about $15.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,590 and $35,090.
What is a home health and personal care aide’s take-home pay in Wilmington, NC?
On the median $31,540 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $26,773 a year ($2,231 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $750 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Wilmington, NC a good place to work as a home health and personal care aide?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $35,800. Local prices are 3.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,766 would in a typical U.S. city. Wilmington, NC ranks #123 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a home health and personal care aide afford rent in Wilmington, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Wilmington, NC is $1,380 a month ($1,512 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 Wilmington, NC
- Nursing Assistant — $37,710