Supporting an older adult during what can be a lonely and isolating stage in a person’s life can be an incredibly rewarding role. As more people decide to age in place, they’re hiring in-home care providers, many of whom are focused primarily on offering non-medical support.
If you’re considering becoming a companion care provider, here are the basics on providing this type of service, along with what you need to know to set a fair companion care pay rate.
What exactly is companion care?
Companion care is a non-medical, in-home care service that offers companionship to aging adults, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, explains Ryan Miner, director of business development at Nest & Care. Although this type of care can be administered by a certified nurse assistant (CNA), certification is not required.
Companions provide help “alongside” tasks that do not require hands-on intervention and potentially offer supervision to ensure safety, says Gail Weatherill, a registered nurse who supports dementia caregivers and has provided companion care.
How to become a companion caregiver
According to Stephan Baldwin, founder of Assisted Living Center, “your social and interpersonal skills are the most important because your core responsibility is to provide support and companionship to another person.”
And while Weatherill notes that “there are no certification or licensing programs for becoming a companion,” Howard Algeo, director of business development and training at Seniors Helping Seniors, says that most companies require a high school diploma or equivalent and will ask you to participate in a training program that can vary. Learn more about how to become a companion caregiver here.
How much do companion caregivers make?
According to the Genworth’s recent Cost of Care survey, the median national hourly cost for homemaker services, or companion care, is $30 an hour, but this drastically changes depending on location.
Although rates vary depending on where you live and your experience, the main draw for many who choose a career in companion caregiving is not the salary, says Weatherill. “Unfortunately, care of our elders is not valued in our society and companion work salaries reflect that,” she says. “Most individuals who pursue companion work do it for love of working with seniors, flexible scheduling and the lesser physical demands required as compared to working in other long-term care settings.”
Nicole Brackett, care delivery and education manager at Homewatch CareGivers, adds that the companion care pay rate across the country “ranges significantly” depending on shift type and length; and in her experience, the cost of a caregiver can be between $20-$35 per hour, depending on shift type and length.
Here are some examples of the going posted companion care pay rate based on location, according to recent Care.com data.
Current posted companion care pay rates in top U.S. cities*
| City, State | Hourly Companion Caregiver Rate |
| Seattle, Washington | $26.73 |
| Portland, Oregon | $23.55 |
| Washington, D.C. | $23.55 |
| San Diego, California | $22.68 |
| Denver, Colorado | $22.39 |
| Brooklyn, New York | $22.07 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $20.61 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $20.44 |
| Miami, Florida | $19.69 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $19.00 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $18.69 |
| Orlando, Florida | $18.61 |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | $18.42 |
| San Antonio, Texas | $17.43 |
| Houston, Texas | $17.36 |
Other factors that affect companion caregiver salary
In addition to where you live, what you make can also depend on where you work — through an agency or independently. “Many agencies have a daily four-hour care minimum, and typically, the cost of companion care rises at less than four hours a day,” explains Miner.
But there are other differences between the two options that are worth noting.
Working for a care agency
Although when working for a care agency, you do not receive the full hourly rate that the client pays, the advantages of working for an agency are overwhelming for all parties, according to Algeo. “The agency deducts all required taxes and matches the caregiver’s social security contributions and agencies may offer additional benefits, such as paid time off and performance bonuses,” he says. “The agency also protects the caregiver with Worker’s Compensation insurance and other coverage.”
Miner agrees, explaining that because in-home care agencies are licensed, bonded and insured, they “shoulder liabilities in the event of an unforeseen accident or incident within a client’s home,” which could be financially catastrophic.
Another bonus of working for an agency is that it is easier to establish boundaries because having this type of “middle man” removes any potential ambiguity about the employer-employee relationship.
Here are other perks of working for an agency, according Brackett:
- Competitive pay.
- Free ongoing education.
- Supportive leadership.
- Flexible work schedule (this depends on the agency but most offer it in her experience).
- Paid sick and personal days.
- Health insurance.
- Health benefit programs.
“There is peace of mind working for an agency related to all the HR benefits that come with the job,” she says.
Plus, according to Algeo, opting to work for an agency also helps safeguard the seniors for which you’re caring. “The agency protects the care receiver with thoroughly screened and trained caregivers, backup caregivers, insurance and bonding,” he says.
“Common sense, a love of people and a strong work ethic make for an ideal companion.”
— Gail Weatherill, registered nurse
Working independently
The benefits of being your own boss might be priceless — and can be sustained if you find a few clients to whom you consistently provide services, though keep in mind, you’re “taking on the responsibility for taxes and insurance,” notes Algeo.
Also, he adds, “if the client passes away or decides to move into a long-term care facility, move out of town or maybe hire an agency to provide care, you will need to fill that gap.”
The bottom line
Ultimately, your potential for earning a lucrative companion caregiver salary will depend on a variety of factors, like your geographic location. But when considering your overall happiness and success in the field, you’ll do well to take the following tip from Weatherill: “Common sense, a love of people and a strong work ethic make for an ideal companion.”
