Whether you are a caregiver working out what you can earn in your county, or a recipient trying to understand how the program pays, this guide covers the full county-by-county wage table, how rates actually get set, what changed in July 2026, and what providers take home after overtime and sick leave are counted in.
IHSS caregiver pay rates in California range from $16.90/hr in Siskiyou County to $23.00/hr in San Francisco — a $6.10 gap worth more than $12,000 a year to a full-time caregiver. Each of California's 58 counties sets its own rate through local collective bargaining, so what you earn depends on where your recipient lives.
How IHSS pay rates are determined
IHSS wages are not set by the state as one uniform rate. Each county negotiates its own wage with the union that represents providers there, and those agreements are approved by the county board and funded in part through the state.
Almost every county rate is built the same way: the California minimum wage as a floor, plus a locally bargained wage supplement on top. The floor is $16.90 an hour as of January 1, 2026. Alameda County, for example, pays that floor plus a $5.20 supplement, which is how it reaches $22.10. Understanding this is the difference between reading the table and predicting it — when the minimum wage moves, every county sitting at the floor moves with it, and when a contract’s supplement steps up, only that county moves.
There is no single statewide raise date. Each county’s increase takes effect on the date written into its bargaining agreement. Two dates recur: January 1, when counties paying at or near the floor rise with the state minimum wage, and July 1, the start of the state fiscal year, when negotiated supplements commonly step up.
Key fact for care recipients: Your caregiver's hourly wage does not come out of your personal IHSS budget and does not reduce your authorized service hours. The wage is funded through the program, not out of your allotment.
IHSS pay rates by county — full 2026 table (all 58 counties)
The table below lists the hourly rate for every California county as of August 2026, including the increases that took effect July 1. The change column compares against August 2025. Use the search box to jump to your county.
cdss.ca.gov
| County | Hourly rate | Change vs Aug 2025 | Rate effective | Pay tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $22.10 | +$2.10 | Jul 1, 2026 | Above $21 |
| Alpine | $17.85 | +$0.50 | Jul 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Amador | $19.40 | +$1.40 | Aug 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| Butte | $17.90 | +$0.65 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Calaveras | $17.89 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Colusa | $17.40 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Contra Costa | $20.03 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Del Norte | $18.50 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| El Dorado | $17.40 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Fresno | $18.75 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Glenn | $17.90 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Humboldt | $18.40 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Imperial | $18.83 | +$0.68 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Inyo | $17.65 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Kern | $17.90 | +$0.60 | Jul 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Kings | $17.50 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Lake | $17.55 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Lassen | $17.55 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Los Angeles | $19.64 | +$1.14 | Jan 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| Madera | $17.90 | +$0.90 | Jul 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Marin | $20.40 | +$0.65 | Feb 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Mariposa | $17.50 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Mendocino | $19.71 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| Merced | $17.50 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Modoc | $17.75 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Mono | $17.95 | +$0.45 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Monterey | $21.04 | +$1.80 | Jul 1, 2026 | Above $21 |
| Napa | $20.90 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Nevada | $18.50 | +$0.75 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Orange | $18.90 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Placer | $18.50 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Plumas | $18.50 | +$0.75 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Riverside | $19.90 | +$1.40 | May 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| Sacramento | $19.15 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| San Benito | $19.35 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| San Bernardino | $19.00 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| San Diego | $20.40 | +$1.40 | Mar 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| San Francisco | $23.00 | +$0.50 | Jan 1, 2026 | Above $21 |
| San Joaquin | $18.97 | +$1.97 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| San Luis Obispo | $21.40 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | Above $21 |
| San Mateo | $21.70 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | Above $21 |
| Santa Barbara | $20.07 | +$1.40 | Apr 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Santa Clara | $20.44 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Santa Cruz | $20.90 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Shasta | $18.50 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Sierra | $18.50 | +$0.75 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Siskiyou | $16.90 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | Below $17 |
| Solano | $18.10 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Sonoma | $20.25 | +$1.05 | Mar 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Stanislaus | $18.75 | +$1.00 | Jul 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Sutter | $17.90 | +$0.55 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Tehama | $18.40 | +$0.65 | Jul 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Trinity | $18.25 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Tulare | $17.50 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Tuolumne | $17.90 | +$0.40 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
| Ventura | $20.97 | +$0.82 | Jul 1, 2026 | $20–$21 |
| Yolo | $19.05 | +$1.80 | Jan 1, 2026 | $19–$20 |
| Yuba | $18.78 | +$0.88 | Jan 1, 2026 | $17–$19 |
2026 rate highlights — the biggest increases
Most counties received the standard increase of about $0.40 an hour, tracking the minimum wage. Several negotiated considerably more:
- San Joaquin County saw the largest increase in the state at +$1.97/hr, from $17.00 to $18.97.
- Alameda County gained +$2.10/hr across two steps — the minimum wage rise in January, then a $0.50 supplement increase on July 1, 2026 — reaching $22.10.
- Yolo County gained +$1.80/hr, rising from $17.25 to $19.05.
- Monterey County also gained +$1.80/hr, moving to $20.64 in January and $21.04 on July 1, 2026.
- Riverside, San Diego, and Santa Barbara each gained +$1.40/hr.
- Los Angeles County rose +$1.14/hr to $19.64 — still under $20 despite being the state’s largest county.
Fourteen counties now pay $20 an hour or more.
Lowest paid: Siskiyou County remains the lowest in the state at $16.90/hr — exactly California's minimum wage. IHSS caregivers there earn the same hourly rate as an entry-level retail worker, for skilled personal care work.
Estimate your annual IHSS earnings
What you actually earn depends on your county’s rate and the hours your recipient is authorized for. The estimator below multiplies the two and adds overtime for anything above 40 hours in a week.
Gross pay before taxes. Hours above 40 in a week are calculated at 1.5× overtime. This is an estimate only — your actual pay depends on the hours your recipient is authorized for, and IHSS caps providers at 360 hours per month across all recipients.
Do IHSS caregivers get overtime, sick leave, or benefits?
The hourly rate is only part of the picture. IHSS providers have several protections under state law:
- Overtime pay: Providers earn 1.5× their hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. IHSS overtime is weekly only — unlike most California jobs, there is no daily overtime trigger, so a 10-hour day does not by itself earn overtime. The IHSS workweek runs Sunday through Saturday.
- Weekly hour limits: A provider serving a single recipient can generally work up to 70 hours and 45 minutes per week. A provider serving multiple recipients is capped at 66 hours. Providers with an approved exemption can work more, but no provider is paid beyond 360 hours per month across all recipients.
- Paid sick leave: For fiscal year 2026–27, providers receive 40 hours of paid sick leave, granted July 1, 2026. This is an annual grant, not an hour-by-hour accrual. The leave year runs July 1 through June 30, and unused hours expire on June 30 rather than carrying over. New providers must work 100 hours of authorized services, then another 200 hours or 60 calendar days, before using their first allocation.
- Health benefits: Some county Public Authorities offer health coverage to providers who work enough hours. Eligibility and availability vary widely by county — ask your county’s Public Authority directly.
- Mileage reimbursement: Not a standard program benefit. IHSS does not generally reimburse driving to appointments, though a few counties have local supplements.
ⓘ In most counties the recipient is the legal employer of their IHSS provider, while the county Public Authority is the employer of record for union bargaining. That split affects how taxes, benefits, and labor protections apply. Consult a tax professional about your own situation.
How IHSS raises actually get negotiated
Rates are not automatic and not uniform. They move through county-level collective bargaining:
- Your county’s IHSS Public Authority is the employer of record for providers in most counties, and the entity that bargains with the union.
- A union represents providers. SEIU Local 2015 represents providers in most California counties. UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 represents them in others, including San Diego, Riverside, and Santa Barbara. Which one covers you depends on your county.
- Members vote, then the county board approves. A tentative agreement has to be ratified by the membership and then adopted by the Board of Supervisors sitting as the Public Authority.
- The new rate takes effect on the contract date, which is why counties change on different days of the year rather than all at once.
If you want to push for higher pay in your county, the most direct route is your union local. Your county Public Authority can tell you which one represents providers in your area.
Find an IHSS caregiver in your county
IHSS Connect helps recipients and caregivers find each other across all 58 California counties.
Frequently asked questions
How much does IHSS pay per hour in California?
IHSS hourly rates run from $16.90 (Siskiyou County) to $23.00 (San Francisco) as of August 2026. The rate is set by the county where the recipient lives, not where the caregiver lives. Most counties fall between $17.40 and $20.00 per hour.
When does the 2026 IHSS pay raise take effect?
There is no single statewide raise date — each county’s increase lands on the date written into its own bargaining agreement. In 2026, 44 counties moved on January 1 with the state minimum wage. Eight counties raised rates on July 1, 2026: Alameda, Alpine, Kern, Madera, Monterey, Stanislaus, Tehama, and Ventura. Amador followed on August 1, 2026. The “Rate effective” column in the table above shows the date for every county.
Which California county pays IHSS the most?
San Francisco pays the highest rate in the state at $23.00 per hour. Alameda ($22.10), San Mateo ($21.70), and San Luis Obispo ($21.40) follow.
Do IHSS caregivers get overtime pay?
Yes, but weekly only. IHSS providers earn 1.5× their hourly rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Unlike most California jobs, IHSS has no daily overtime threshold — a 10-hour day does not trigger overtime on its own. The IHSS workweek runs Sunday through Saturday.
How much paid sick leave do IHSS providers get?
For fiscal year 2026–27, IHSS providers receive 40 hours of paid sick leave, granted on July 1, 2026. It is an annual grant, not an hour-by-hour accrual. The leave year runs July 1 through June 30, and unused hours expire on June 30 rather than carrying over.
Can a family member be paid as an IHSS caregiver?
Yes. Adult children, siblings, and parents can all be paid providers for an eligible recipient, with specific rules for spouses and for parents of minor children. Every provider must complete enrollment, orientation, and a background check.
Is IHSS income taxable?
It depends on where you live. Wages paid to a provider who lives in the same home as the recipient are generally excluded from federal and California income tax under the Difficulty of Care exclusion (IRS Notice 2014-7). Providers who live separately normally report IHSS wages as taxable income. Check with a tax professional about your own circumstances.
Sources
- County IHSS Wage Rates — California Dept. of Social Services — The authoritative county-by-county wage file. Download “County Individual Provider Wage Rates” for the current figures. https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss/county-ihss-wage-rates
- Minimum Wage — California Dept. of Industrial Relations — California’s $16.90/hour minimum wage effective January 1, 2026 — the floor beneath every county IHSS rate. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/minimum_wage.htm
- IHSS Paid Sick Leave Program — CDSS — The 40-hour annual sick leave grant for fiscal year 2026–27, the July 1 – June 30 leave year, and the eligibility hours. https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ihss-providers/resources/sick-leave
- IHSS Program Rules — Overtime, Travel Time and Wait Time (LA County DPSS) — Confirms IHSS overtime is paid on hours over 40 per workweek, with no daily overtime threshold. https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/senior-and-disabled/ihss/flsa.html
- IHSS and WPCS Workweek Exemptions — Disability Rights California — Weekly hour caps for single and multiple recipients, and the 360-hour monthly ceiling. https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/publications/recent-changes-to-in-home-supportive-services-ihss-and-waiver-personal-care-services
- Alameda County Board of Supervisors, IHSS Public Authority agenda item (Sept 9, 2025) — Sets Alameda’s wage supplement at $5.20/hour effective July 1, 2026, on a base of state minimum wage — the source of the $22.10 figure. https://www.acgov.org/board/bos_calendar/documents/DocsAgendaReg_09_09_25/SITTING%20AS%20THE%20GOVERNING%20BODY%20OF%20THE%20PUBLIC%20AUTHORITY%20FOR%20IN-HOME%20SUPPORTIVE%20SERVICES/Regular%20Calendar/SSA_Human%20Resource%20Services_.pdf
- Monterey County Home Care Providers Ratify a New Union Contract — SEIU 2015 — The negotiated wage schedule behind Monterey’s $21.04 rate effective July 2026. https://www.seiu2015.org/monterey-county-home-care-providers-mostly-women-of-color-ratify-a-new-union-contract-bringing-higher-wages-and-much-more/
This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. IHSS pay rates change as county contracts are negotiated and approved, and the figures here may not reflect the very latest change in your county. Verify your county’s current rate with your county IHSS office or the CDSS county wage file before relying on it.
