Occupation · SOC 31-1122
Personal Care Aides
Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation). May also provide help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry. Work is performed in various settings depending on the needs of the care recipient and may include locations such as their home, place of work, out in the community, or at a daytime nonresidential facility.
Median wage
$35,940
$27,050–$46,360
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
5,464,490
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
24 mapped
Core skills
Service OrientationSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringCoordinationInstructingTime Management
Knowledge areas
English LanguageTransportationCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Computer based training softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareOptical character reader OCR or scanning softwareElectronic mail softwareVideo conferencing software
Representative tasks
Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands.Provide clients with communication assistance, typing their correspondence or obtaining information for them.Train family members to provide bedside care.Plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals.Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians' offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Client hygiene and grooming tasks — assist with under direct supervision in a residential or group care setting.Basic activity records — document daily services performed using a paper or electronic log with guidance from a supervisor.Vital signs monitoring — observe and record measurements such as pulse and temperature under the direction of a registered nurse or supervising clinician.Household cleaning and laundry duties — carry out following a structured task list provided by a care coordinator.Client correspondence and communication needs — support by typing messages or printing materials using word processing software with direction from a supervisor.Ambulation and mobility assistance — provide to clients during daily routines using approved body mechanics taught during orientation training.Changes in client condition — recognize and promptly report observable signs to a manager or nurse in a home or facility care environment.Meal preparation guidelines — follow standardized nutrition instructions provided by the care team when cooking for clients in a home setting.Appointment and task schedules — review and follow using calendar and scheduling software under supervisor guidance.Active listening techniques — apply when receiving client requests or instructions from healthcare team members during routine care activities.
developing
Client progress records — maintain accurately and consistently using electronic health or data reporting software with minimal oversight in a home care environment.Personal care routines including bathing, dressing, and oral hygiene — perform independently and adapt to individual client needs across a regular caseload.Medication reminders and vital signs tracking — monitor and document for multiple clients, flagging deviations to the supervising nurse or physiotherapist.Household errands and running tasks — coordinate efficiently within a client's weekly schedule using time management strategies learned through on-the-job experience.Client and family guidance on hygiene, nutrition, and household cleanliness — deliver using clear spoken instructions tailored to the client's comprehension level.Case review meetings — participate in by contributing direct-care observations about client progress and emerging needs to the interdisciplinary team.Emotional support and companionship — provide consistently to clients experiencing convalescence or family disruption, applying empathy and social perceptiveness developed through field experience.Communication assistance tools including OCR scanning and email software — use to obtain information or prepare correspondence on behalf of clients with limited technology access.Safety and emergency protocols — apply correctly when recognizing a change in a client's physical or mental condition during an unsupervised home visit.Video conferencing software — use to connect clients with remote family members or telehealth providers as part of routine care coordination.
proficient
Comprehensive care records and service summaries — prepare and review independently, ensuring accuracy and completeness across a complex client caseload in home or community settings.Full-scope personal care including ambulation, hygiene, and rehabilitation support exercises — deliver autonomously, adjusting techniques based on each client's changing health status.Healthcare task performance including vital signs monitoring and medication oversight — execute under a delegated nursing care plan, applying critical thinking to identify and escalate non-routine findings.Individualized lifestyle and self-care instruction — design and deliver to clients and families on topics including nutrition, infant care, and household management based on assessed needs.Non-routine client behavioral or emotional changes — assess using psychological and social perceptiveness, determining appropriate responses and escalation pathways without supervisor prompts.Interdisciplinary care plan reviews — contribute substantively, synthesizing observational data and client feedback into actionable recommendations for the care team.Extended family disruption or convalescence situations — manage by providing sustained emotional support, practical assistance, and resource referrals tailored to each household's circumstances.Scheduling conflicts and competing care priorities — resolve independently across multiple client assignments using calendar software and sound time management judgment.Written care documentation and client reports — produce clearly and accurately using word processing and spreadsheet software, meeting agency compliance and quality standards.Technology tools including medical software and database reporting platforms — operate proficiently to track client outcomes and generate progress summaries for supervisory review.
advanced
Agency-wide personal care standards and documentation protocols — develop and implement to ensure consistency and compliance across all aide staff in home and community care settings.New and junior personal care aides — mentor and coach in daily care techniques, reporting procedures, and professional conduct through structured on-the-job training programs.Complex multi-client caseload assignments — oversee and coordinate by designing efficient scheduling frameworks using calendar and scheduling software at a team or program level.Interdisciplinary care team collaboration — lead by synthesizing aide-level field observations with clinical data to drive improved client care planning and service delivery outcomes.Staff competency gaps and training needs — identify through performance monitoring and direct observation, designing targeted instructional interventions to elevate team capability.Organizational policies for client safety, emergency response, and public health compliance — establish and communicate, drawing on knowledge of public safety, security, and healthcare regulations.Client and family satisfaction and quality-of-care outcomes — evaluate systematically using data reporting software, driving continuous improvement initiatives across the care program.Technology adoption including telehealth video platforms, medical software, and electronic mail systems — champion and guide staff in effective use to modernize service delivery.Cross-functional case conferences involving nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and administrators — facilitate by synthesizing information across disciplines to produce unified client care strategies.Workforce culture of empathy, integrity, and dependability — model and cultivate across the personal care aide team through recognized leadership behaviors and consistent professional standards.
Also known as
88 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
CompanionAerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force 4N031F)Nutrition AideDirect Care WorkerCaregiverAerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force 4N051G)Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force 4N071B)Health Service WorkerAerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force 4N031C)Home Health Care ProviderAerospace Medical Service Helper, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force 4N011B)Direct Support Staff MemberAerospace Medical Service Helper, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force 4N011H)Direct Care StafferHome CaregiverAerospace Medical Service Helper, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force 4N011F)Hospitalman (Navy 003358)Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force 4A091)Home Help AidePersonal AttendantPatient SitterPersonal Care Attendant (PCA)Health Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force 4A071S)Guardian Family MemberAerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Flight and Operational Medical Technician (Air Force 4N071F)Hospitalman (Navy HN)Geriatric Personal Care AideLive In CaregiverAerospace Medical Service Helper (Air Force 4N011)Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, National Registry Paramedic (Air Force 4N071H)Personal Care AideHealth Services Management Helper (Air Force 4A011)Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Neurodiagnostic Medical Technician (Air Force 4N051B)Aerospace Medical Service Helper, Independent Duty Medical Technician (Air Force 4N011C)Aerospace Medical Service Apprentice, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force 4N031G)Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Aeromedical Education Technician (Air Force 4N071G)Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force 4A051)In Home CaregiverIn-Home Care AideBlind Escort