Caregiver Wages in Washington State
Across roles and regions, Washington’s caregiver wages remain well above comparable states and national benchmarks.
Yan Heng
Washington State consistently reports some of the highest caregiver wages in the U.S., with current 2026 data showing pay rates that significantly exceed national averages across all major sectors.
Washington vs. National Average (Hourly)
Caregivers in Washington earn an average that is 13% to 30% higher than the national rate.
- Washington State Average: Approximately $18 to $25 per hour, depending on the role.
- National Average: Ranges from $15.54 to $16.78 per hour for home health and personal care aides.
- Seattle Premium: In major hubs like Seattle, the average rate for specific roles like Consumer Directed Care Network Washington reaches $26.17 per hour.
Wages by Caregiver Category
Different job types and employers report varying rates, with some specialized roles paying more than double the national average:
- Consumer Directed Care Network Washington: Individual providers for the state earn an average of $25.76 per hour.
- Agency-Based Caregivers: Average rates for major private agencies are around $21.56 per hour.
- Live-in Caregivers: Average roughly $25.45 per hour, or about $52,940 annually.
Ranking and Comparison Reports
- ZipRecruiter 2026 Salary Report: Ranks Washington as the #1 highest-paying state for caregivers in the U.S., beating the national average by approximately $4,284 annually.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Official May 2024 data (released in 2025) lists Washington’s mean hourly wage for home health aides at $20.19, significantly higher than neighboring states like Oregon ($19.26).
- Washington Caregiver Careers: Notes that while Washington has the highest mean wage for caregivers in the country, these wages are often still approximately 30% higher than the baseline national rate.