Home care pricing varies enough by borough, agency, and the type of care needed that a single number isn’t very useful on its own. What’s more useful is understanding what actually drives the price, and how it compares to national figures.
What national data shows
The most widely cited industry benchmark is the annual Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey. Its most recent published results (2024 data) put the national median cost of a home health aide — “hands-on” personal care like bathing, dressing and eating — at $77,792 per year, up 3% from the prior year. Homemaker services (cooking, cleaning, errands, without hands-on personal care) rose faster, up 10% to $75,504 — the survey notes that two-thirds of agencies now charge the same rate for both, closing a gap that used to favor homemaker services as the cheaper option.
| Care type | National annual median (2024 data) | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Home health aide (hands-on personal care) | $77,792 | +3% |
| Homemaker services (hands-off support) | $75,504 | +10% |
| Adult day care | $26,000 | +5% |
| Assisted living community | $70,800 | +10% |
These are national figures. New York City in particular tends to run above the national median, reflecting the area’s overall cost of living and labor market.
Why the hourly rate is higher than an aide’s wage
As of 1 January 2026, the minimum wage for a home care aide in New York City, Long Island and Westchester is $19.65 an hour — that’s what an aide is paid, at minimum, not what a family is billed. The gap between that wage and the hourly rate an agency charges isn’t pure markup; it typically covers:
- Payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance
- Liability insurance and bonding
- Supervision and the required 12 hours of annual in-service training
- Scheduling, backup coverage, and administrative overhead
- In New York City specifically, wage parity supplemental benefits on top of the base wage for Medicaid-funded cases
An agency quoting a rate close to the bare minimum wage is either operating on very thin margins or cutting corners somewhere in that list — worth asking about directly, per our guide to choosing a home care agency.
What actually changes the price
- Type of care. A home health aide costs more than a homemaker/companion-only arrangement, and skilled nursing costs more than either.
- Hours and shift length. Live-in or 24-hour arrangements price differently than scheduled daytime hours — and live-in shifts have their own specific pay rules under New York labor law that affect what an agency can reasonably charge.
- Borough and neighborhood. Rates in Manhattan tend to run higher than in parts of Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island.
- Private pay vs. Medicaid-funded. Medicaid-funded care through a Managed Long Term Care plan works on an authorized-hours basis rather than an hourly bill to the family.
How families actually cover it
Few families pay full private-pay rates indefinitely without exploring other routes. Options worth understanding before assuming private pay is the only path:
- Medicaid-funded home care, if you qualify
- Spend-down or a pooled income trust, if income is the obstacle rather than need
- Medicare, for a narrower, time-limited set of skilled-care needs after a hospitalization
- A mix of paid and family-provided care, using CDPAP where a family member is willing and eligible to be paid directly
If you want an actual quote rather than a national average, or help figuring out which funding route fits your situation, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page. We’re a licensed agency in Brooklyn and Queens, licence #2572L001, and we’ll give you a straight answer rather than a range designed to sound better than it is.
Frequently asked questions
How much does home care cost in New York?
It varies significantly by borough, care type, and hours needed. National survey data puts the median annual cost of a home health aide at $77,792, with New York City typically running above that national figure.
Why is home care more expensive than an aide’s hourly wage?
The rate a family pays covers more than wages — payroll taxes, insurance, required training, supervision, scheduling, and (for Medicaid-funded cases in NYC) wage parity benefits on top of the base wage.
Is home health aide care more expensive than homemaker services?
It used to be more expensive, but the gap has closed — national survey data shows two-thirds of agencies now charge the same rate for both types of service.
Does Medicaid pay by the hour for home care?
No — Medicaid-funded home care through a Managed Long Term Care plan works on authorized hours based on a clinical assessment, not a per-hour bill to the family.
What affects the price of home care most?
The type of care (personal care vs. skilled nursing), shift length and structure (hourly vs. live-in), borough, and whether it’s private-pay or Medicaid-funded.
Cost figures change; the national data above reflects the most recently published Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey results as of 27 September 2026. Request a current quote for your specific situation and location.
