Pay

How much do family caregivers get paid?

It depends on the state and program. USA.gov says the amount varies by state.¹ Most state pages we checked do not publish a fixed rate. The VA stipend is the exception: it follows a published federal formula.³

Official sources
Last verified Oct 20, 2026
Independent site, not a government agency

Written by Luis Fernando Garcia

Reviewed against official sources Last verified Oct 20, 2026 3 official sources cited

Methodology Editorial policy Corrections

Key facts

National rate: None¹
VA stipend: 62.5% or 100% of the GS-4 step 1 locality rate divided by 12³
California IHSS: Varies by county²

Does the state publish one pay rate? 51/51: No single published rate. VA Level 1 62.5%, Level 2 100%. — Source: 51 state official sources, caregiver.va.gov

What each state publishes

Published pay information, from each state's official source (see state pages)
State	Pay information
Alabama	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Alaska	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Arizona	AHCCCS does not publish a caregiver wage on the policy pages we reviewed.
Arkansas	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
California	CDSS says hourly wages vary by county because unions negotiate rates in each county. Ask the county IHSS social worker for your county rate. The State issues provider paychecks.
Colorado	Attendant wages are negotiated between the member and attendant, may not exceed the rate set by HCPF, and must meet minimum wage law (HCPF rule 8.510). A single statewide family caregiver rate is not published on the pages we reviewed.
Connecticut	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Delaware	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
District of Columbia	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Florida	AHCA does not publish one statewide hourly rate for PDO workers on the pages we reviewed. The rate is set within the plan's rules.
Georgia	Paid as a daily stipend through the SFC agency. Georgia's EDWP manual says the agency must pass through at least 60% of the per diem rate to the caregiver. The dollar amount is not published on the pages we reviewed.
Hawaii	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Idaho	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Illinois	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Indiana	FSSA describes SFC as reimbursed at a daily rate to the provider agency. A caregiver dollar amount is not published on the pages we reviewed.
Iowa	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Kansas	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Kentucky	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Louisiana	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Maine	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Maryland	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Massachusetts	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Michigan	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Minnesota	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Mississippi	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Missouri	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Montana	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Nebraska	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Nevada	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
New Hampshire	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
New Jersey	Participants get a monthly allowance in place of agency PCA services (N.J.A.C. 10:142-1.1). The state page we reviewed does not publish a fixed caregiver hourly rate.
New Mexico	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
New York	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
North Carolina	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
North Dakota	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Ohio	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Oklahoma	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Oregon	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania DHS does not publish one statewide hourly rate for participant-directed workers on the pages we reviewed. Check with the CHC managed care plan and the financial management services provider.
Rhode Island	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
South Carolina	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
South Dakota	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Tennessee	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Texas	Texas HHS does not publish one statewide pay rate. The employer sets the hourly wage within the program budget, with help from a financial management services agency (FMSA).
Utah	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Vermont	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Virginia	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Washington	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
West Virginia	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Wisconsin	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.
Wyoming	No statewide caregiver pay rate is published on the official pages we reviewed. Pay is set within the program budget or program rules. Ask the program or its payroll agency for the rate in writing.

How to find your exact rate

Get approved for the program.
Ask the case manager or county worker for the rate.
Ask the payroll agency for the wage in writing.

VA stipend, 2026 base GS-4 step 1. Level 1: $1,619.95. Level 2: $2,591.92. Monthly, before locality pay. — Source: opm.gov 2026 GS table, caregiver.va.gov

Frequently asked questions

How much do family members get paid for caregiving?

There is no single national rate. Medicaid programs set pay by state, county, or plan, and many do not publish one number. The VA stipend follows a published formula.

Why don't you give one hourly number?

Because most official sources do not publish one. We never estimate a rate the official source does not publish.

Who tells me my exact pay?

The county or state program, the health plan, or the payroll agency that runs the program.

Sources

USA.gov: https://www.usa.gov/disability-caregiverOfficial
California CDSS, IHSS: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/in-home-supportive-servicesOfficial
VA, PCAFC stipend: https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/PCAFC-Stipend.aspOfficial

Last verified Oct 20, 2026