IHSS caregiver pay rates range from $16.90/hr (Siskiyou) to $23.00/hr (San Francisco) in 2026. See the full table of all 58 California counties, plus earnings calculator, overtime rules, and 2026 raise breakdown.
Last updated: May 14, 2026
Source: California Dept. of Social Services
IHSS Pay Rates by County in California — 2026 Complete Guide
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 that adds up to more than $12,000 in annual income for a full-time caregiver. Rates are set individually by each of California’s 58 counties and updated twice yearly by CDSS.
Whether you’re a caregiver researching what you can earn in your county, or a care recipient trying to understand how the IHSS program works, this guide covers everything — the full county-by-county wage table, how rates are set, what the 2026 changes mean, and what caregivers actually take home.
How IHSS pay rates are determined
Unlike most employment programs, IHSS wages are not set by the state as a single uniform rate. Instead, each California county negotiates its own wage with local IHSS provider unions — primarily SEIU locals — and those agreements are then submitted to and approved by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
The state sets a minimum floor: IHSS wages cannot fall below California’s current minimum wage, which is $16.90 per hour as of January 1, 2026. Above that floor, counties can negotiate additional supplements. Some counties — particularly in the Bay Area and Central Coast — pay significantly above the floor. Others sit right at it.
CDSS publishes updated county wage rates twice a year, typically effective January 1 and August 1. Some counties also receive approved mid-year increases through their collective bargaining agreements, which is why certain counties may show larger-than-average jumps between update cycles.
Key fact for care recipients: Your caregiver’s IHSS hourly wage is paid directly by CDSS — it does not come out of your personal IHSS budget or reduce your authorized service hours in any way.
IHSS pay rates by county — full 2026 table (all 58 counties)
The table below lists the current IHSS hourly pay rate for every California county as of May 1, 2026, along with how each rate changed from the August 2025 figures. Use the search box to find your county instantly.
cdss.ca.gov
| County | Hourly rate | Change vs Aug 2025 | Pay tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | $21.60 | +$1.60 | Above $21 |
| Alpine | $17.75 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Amador | $18.40 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Butte | $17.90 | +$0.65 | $17–$19 |
| Calaveras | $17.89 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Colusa | $17.40 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Contra Costa | $20.03 | +$0.40 | $20–$21 |
| Del Norte | $18.50 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| El Dorado | $17.40 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Fresno | $18.75 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Glenn | $17.90 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Humboldt | $18.40 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Imperial | $18.83 | +$0.68 | $17–$19 |
| Inyo | $17.65 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Kern | $17.70 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Kings | $17.50 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Lake | $17.55 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Lassen | $17.55 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Los Angeles | $19.64 | +$1.14 | $19–$20 |
| Madera | $17.40 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Marin | $20.40 | +$0.65 | $20–$21 |
| Mariposa | $17.50 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Mendocino | $19.71 | +$0.40 | $19–$20 |
| Merced | $17.50 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Modoc | $17.75 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Mono | $17.95 | +$0.45 | $17–$19 |
| Monterey | $20.64 | +$1.40 | $20–$21 |
| Napa | $20.90 | +$0.40 | $20–$21 |
| Nevada | $18.50 | +$0.75 | $17–$19 |
| Orange | $18.90 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Placer | $18.50 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Plumas | $18.50 | +$0.75 | $17–$19 |
| Riverside | $19.90 | +$1.40 | $19–$20 |
| Sacramento | $19.15 | +$0.40 | $19–$20 |
| San Benito | $19.35 | +$0.40 | $19–$20 |
| San Bernardino | $19.00 | +$0.40 | $19–$20 |
| San Diego | $20.40 | +$1.40 | $20–$21 |
| San Francisco | $23.00 | +$0.50 | Above $21 |
| San Joaquin | $18.97 | +$1.97 | $17–$19 |
| San Luis Obispo | $21.40 | +$0.40 | Above $21 |
| San Mateo | $21.70 | +$0.40 | Above $21 |
| Santa Barbara | $20.07 | +$1.40 | $20–$21 |
| Santa Clara | $20.44 | +$0.40 | $20–$21 |
| Santa Cruz | $20.90 | +$0.40 | $20–$21 |
| Shasta | $18.50 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Sierra | $18.50 | +$0.75 | $17–$19 |
| Siskiyou | $16.90 | +$0.40 | Below $17 |
| Solano | $18.10 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Sonoma | $20.25 | +$1.05 | $20–$21 |
| Stanislaus | $18.65 | +$0.90 | $17–$19 |
| Sutter | $17.90 | +$0.55 | $17–$19 |
| Tehama | $18.15 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Trinity | $18.25 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Tulare | $17.50 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Tuolumne | $17.90 | +$0.40 | $17–$19 |
| Ventura | $20.55 | +$0.40 | $20–$21 |
| Yolo | $19.05 | +$1.80 | $19–$20 |
| Yuba | $18.78 | +$0.88 | $17–$19 |
2026 rate highlights — biggest increases this cycle
Most counties received the standard annual increase of approximately $0.40 per hour for 2026. However, several counties negotiated significantly higher raises through their local SEIU collective bargaining agreements:
- San Joaquin County saw the largest increase in the state at +$1.97/hr, jumping from $17.00 to $18.97
- Yolo County gained +$1.80/hr, rising from $17.25 to $19.05
- Alameda County increased by +$1.60/hr, crossing $21.00 and landing at $21.60
- Monterey, Riverside, San Diego, and Santa Barbara each gained +$1.40/hr
- Los Angeles County increased by +$1.14/hr to $19.64 — still below the $20 mark despite being California’s largest county
The number of counties above $20/hr grew from 8 to 14 in 2026 — a meaningful shift that reflects years of union bargaining pressure following the pandemic.
Lowest paid: Siskiyou County remains the lowest in the state at $16.90/hr — exactly equal to California’s 2026 minimum wage. IHSS caregivers there earn the same hourly rate as any entry-level retail or fast food worker, despite providing skilled personal care to California’s most vulnerable residents.
Estimate your annual IHSS earnings
Your actual take-home depends on both your county’s hourly rate and the number of hours your recipient is authorized for. Use this calculator to estimate what IHSS caregiving pays in your county.
Do IHSS caregivers get overtime, sick leave, or benefits?
The hourly rate is only part of the compensation picture. IHSS providers in California are entitled to several additional protections and benefits under state law:
- Overtime pay: IHSS providers qualify for overtime under California labor law — 1.5× their regular rate after 9 hours in a single day or 40 hours in a work week. This applies to providers working for a single recipient. Providers working for multiple recipients may have different overtime calculations.
- Paid sick leave: All IHSS individual providers accrue paid sick leave. Providers earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to program maximums.
- Health benefits: Some county IHSS Public Authorities offer health insurance to eligible providers who work enough hours. Availability and eligibility vary significantly by county — check with your county’s Public Authority.
- Mileage reimbursement: Not standard. IHSS does not reimburse caregivers for driving to appointments as a general rule, though some counties have local supplements.
Can IHSS pay rates increase? How raises are negotiated
IHSS pay rates are not automatic or universal — they must be negotiated through the collective bargaining process at the county level. Here’s how it works:
- Your county’s IHSS Public Authority is the employer of record for IHSS providers in most counties.
- SEIU locals (Service Employees International Union) represent IHSS providers in collective bargaining negotiations with the Public Authority.
- Negotiated agreements are submitted to CDSS for approval and funding. The state pays a significant share of wage costs through Medi-Cal funding.
- CDSS publishes approved rates twice yearly, with some counties receiving interim updates mid-cycle when agreements are reached.
If you’re an IHSS provider who wants to advocate for higher pay in your county, the most direct path is through your SEIU local. Contact your county’s IHSS Public Authority to find out which SEIU local represents providers in your area.
Frequently asked questions
How much does IHSS pay per hour in California?
IHSS hourly pay rates range from $16.90 (Siskiyou County) to $23.00 (San Francisco) as of May 2026. The rate depends entirely on 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?
The most recent IHSS rate update took effect May 1, 2026. CDSS typically publishes updated rates twice yearly — around January 1 and August 1. Individual counties may also receive approved mid-year increases between those dates.
Which California county pays IHSS the most?
San Francisco pays the highest IHSS rate in the state at $23.00 per hour as of May 2026. San Mateo ($21.70), San Luis Obispo ($21.40), and Alameda ($21.60) also rank among the top paying counties.
Do IHSS caregivers get overtime pay?
Yes. IHSS providers are entitled to overtime under California law — 1.5 times their regular hourly rate after working more than 9 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week for the same recipient.
Can a family member be paid as an IHSS caregiver?
Yes. IHSS allows most family members — including adult children, siblings, and parents — to be paid as a caregiver for an eligible recipient. There are specific rules for spouses and parents of minor children. All providers must complete IHSS enrollment including orientation and a background check.
Is IHSS income taxable?
It depends. IHSS income paid to a provider who lives in the same home as the recipient is generally excluded from federal and California state income tax under the Difficulty of Care (DOC) exclusion. Providers who live separately from their recipient typically must report IHSS wages as taxable income. Always consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
Find an IHSS caregiver in your county
IHSSConnect is California’s only statewide platform connecting IHSS recipients with qualified caregivers across all 58 counties.
This article is for general informational purposes only. IHSS pay rates are subject to change and may vary from the figures shown. Always verify current rates with your county IHSS office or the California Department of Social Services. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice.
