How Much Do Home Healthcare Nurses Make?

Demand for home healthcare nurses has increased due to better remote medical technology, the drive to reduce healthcare costs, and research indicating that patients who recover at home do better than inpatients.

This guide outlines home healthcare nurse salary ranges and offers advice on how to increase your pay. Keep reading for the information you need to negotiate the best salary.

According to Payscale data from June 2022, the average home healthcare nurse salary is $66,280, which amounts to an average hourly salary of $28.74. This rate is lower than the average $68,660 salary for all registered nurses but higher than the $60,680 salary for pediatric nurses.

Many factors can affect home healthcare nurse salaries, including local demand, cost of living, education level, and responsibilities.

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not track home healthcare nurse salaries separately from all registered nurse (RN) income. RN salary figures still reflect the demand and cost of living in different states to provide a general sense of typical pay for all nurses.

California is the highest-paying state for RNs, with an average salary of $124,000. Hawaii is next, paying an average of $106,530, followed by Oregon at $98,630 and Washington, D.C., at $98,540. Alaska is the fifth-highest for average salary, paying $97,230. However, the cost of living in these states is also significantly above average. Be sure to compare state salaries to local cost-of-living figures.

Demand for home healthcare nurses is high, so you may be in a good position to negotiate a higher home healthcare nurse salary than before COVID-19. Home healthcare nurses may be able to further increase their bargaining power in the following ways.

Some home healthcare nurse salaries include travel allowances, while others reimburse travel expenses. The local cost of gas and how often allowances are set will play a part in determining your best option.

Home healthcare nurses work for hospitals, health systems, and independent nursing agencies. You may be paid per patient, per hour, or, less commonly, based on a salary. If you are paid by the patient or by the hour, make sure that the rate reflects or includes reasonable travel time.

Demand is high, and home healthcare nurse salaries are likely to rise in response. Demand for all nurses continues to grow, along with the need for home healthcare. However, fluctuations in gas prices may make your income less predictable if you are not reimbursed for travel costs.

Home healthcare nurse salaries are paid hourly, per patient, or annually. The best approach for you depends on the type of work, travel time between patients, and your personal preferences.