Cost Reference
Home care cost per hour: 2026 rates by service type
The 2026 home care cost per hour reference. National average $33/hour. Companion care, personal care, memory care, and skilled nursing rates by service type.
Quick answer
- National average: $33/hour for non-medical home care in 2026.
- Companion care is cheapest at $28-$32/hour; personal care $30-$36/hour.
- Memory care / dementia specialist adds 10-25% premium ($36-$44/hour).
- Weekends, overnights, holidays typically add 10-25% premium.
- Most agencies require 2-4 hour minimum visits. 1-hour visits are uncommon and uneconomic.
Hourly cost by service type (2026)
National averages. Your state may differ; see our 50-state cost grid.
| Service type | Range | Average | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companion care | $28 - $32 / hr | $30 / hr | No hands-on personal care; conversation, light housekeeping, meal prep, transportation. |
| Personal care | $30 - $36 / hr | $33 / hr | Hands-on bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, continence. |
| 24-hour rotating shifts | $650 - $850 / day | $725 / day | Three 8-hr shifts or two 12-hr shifts; per-hour same as personal care. |
| Live-in (24-hour residence) | $300 - $450 / day | $375 / day | Caregiver lives with client; FLSA sleep-time rules apply. |
| Memory care / dementia specialist | $36 - $44 / hr | $40 / hr | Specialized training; same hands-on scope plus behavior management. |
| Post-op / post-hospital | $32 - $40 / hr | $36 / hr | Short-term, may overlap with skilled HH if Medicare-covered. |
| Respite care | $28 - $36 / hr | $32 / hr | Short-term to give family caregivers a break; often a few hours per week. |
| Skilled nursing (RN/LPN) | $50 - $80 / hr | $65 / hr | Wound care, medication, IV, vent/trach; usually Medicare-covered under PDGM. |
6 time-of-day differentials to expect
Weekday daytime
Base rate. The cheapest tier.
Weekday overnight
+$2-$5 / hour or 10-15% premium.
Saturday / Sunday
+$3-$8 / hour or 15-25% premium.
Federal holidays
+$5-$10 / hour or 25-50% premium.
Same-day request
May add a one-time flat fee or premium tier; not all agencies charge.
Specialty caregivers
Memory care, hospice-aware, pediatric — typically +10-20% above base.
AveeCare's role
AveeCare is software for home care agencies, not a direct in-home care provider. The hourly rate the family pays depends on geography, service type, and payer — not the software the agency uses.
Find an agency near youFrequently asked questions
The national average for non-medical home care is approximately $33 per hour in 2026. Companion care (no hands-on personal care) averages $28-$32/hour. Personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting) averages $30-$36/hour. Skilled nursing in the home (RN/LPN) averages $50-$80/hour but is typically Medicare-covered. Rates vary widely by state — Mississippi/Arkansas $25-$28/hour, California/Massachusetts $40-$45/hour.
Caregivers typically earn $14-$22/hour. The agency markup covers payroll taxes, workers' comp insurance, liability insurance, recruiting/training costs, scheduling/coordination overhead, billing/collections, and a margin to keep the business sustainable. A $33/hour bill rate typically pays the caregiver $16-$20/hour and covers all the above.
Most agencies charge a 10-25% premium for weekends, overnights, and holidays. Some agencies have flat differential rates (e.g. $4/hour extra for nights, $6/hour extra for holidays). A few national franchises do not differentiate. Always ask for a written rate sheet before signing a service agreement.
Most non-medical home care agencies require a minimum visit length of 2-4 hours. Some agencies allow 1-hour visits for experienced/repeat clients. Live-in care is a flat daily or weekly rate. The minimum exists because caregivers travel to the home; a 1-hour visit becomes uneconomic once travel time is included.
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