Home Health - Is it worth the pay?

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Has anyone done a job like this?  I was offered a LPN position doing home health.  I will get 52 cents per mile and $35 per visit.  They say that I should be able to see 5-6 patients per day.  Seems like a job where I put a lot of miles on my car and do not make much money.  The 52 cents per mile just compensates my car expenses.  Assuming that I do 5.5 avg per week, I will gross $962 per week.  So, my take home will be about $820 per week.  Not sure if this job is very profitable considering the hours and all the driving.

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Don't do it. I worked in home health for years. Big waste of time & money. NEVER again! You'll be charting at home, tearing up your car, & putting in more than 8 hours every day for a few bucks. If these agencies can't pay you for your time & provide a car for you to see THEIR patients then they need to close up shop. I'm sorry but I'm not in the home health business. Don't let them take advantage of you. You're better than this. 

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Being paid milage is not the same as being paid for your commute time and $35 a visit sounds like you would need to make a lot of visits to get a decent paycheck.  You'd be spending a lot of uncompensated time on on the road depending on how big of a geographical area you would be covering and no additional pay for time spent outside of direct patient care for your documentation since that's probably included in the pay per visit. No way would I accept that job. Sounds like a LOT of work for not very much money

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Specializes in Critical Care.
kbrn2002 said:

Being paid milage is not the same as being paid for your commute time and $35 a visit sounds like you would need to make a lot of visits to get a decent paycheck.  You'd be spending a lot of uncompensated time on on the road depending on how big of a geographical area you would be covering and no additional pay for time spent outside of direct patient care for your documentation since that's probably included in the pay per visit. No way would I accept that job. Sounds like a LOT of work for not very much money

I didn't even think of it that way!  I thought of it as all the nurses are paid the same, by visit so your experience wouldn't count.  Just looking for a warm nurse body to do the job at the cheapest possible rate like how assembly line factory workers were paid back in the day before minimum wage rules and unions!  No way would I take such a job!  On top of it all the wear and tear on your car and the cost of cars now and they don't make them like they used to, some brands are known to have major transmission and sometimes engine problems before even 100K!  The hours of unpaid documentation after the fact is always a given with home health jobs, but didn't think that this would also include unpaid driving time too.  There are just so many bad nursing jobs out there it is a shame.  I think home health nurses should have company cars, but what do I know.

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I work in home health, and we pay our nurses hourly- not per visit.  Many agencies do a point system, it really varies from agency to agency.... but in my opinion hourly would be the best option.   We follow federal mileage reimbursement, which is 67 cents/mile, however we also pay for travel time.  I would want to know how big is the service area that you are expected to cover?  Agencies near us do have options for company vehicles, but we are small and do not.   $35 per visit seems very vague.  Is there additional pay for the portions of the job beyond that visit (QA, documentation, communication with other members of the care team)?  A full-time nurse at our agency typically sees 3-5 patients per day for routine visits.  We usually allot about an hour to be in the home.  Admissions or recerts or discharges may take more than that.  One thing to think about that I believe is more important than the money, is that you are in these homes by yourself, there's not a team right next to you to discuss with (like in a clinic, or SNF).  Yes, you have people you can call, but it 's not the same.  On the upside... I love going out and seeing home health patients.  It's like going to my grandparents most of the time... however also be ware that you will see the highs and lows of elderly patients living in their homes... some have great families and support systems, but some have no one. 

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I mis-spoke the pay per visit is $25.  I have been training for a week.  Thought it was $35 but saw the paperwork for my position and it says $25.  Doing the numbers there is no money in this job.  They want me to see 6 patients per day.  That is $150.  Then, I will loose 15 cents per mile for every mile that I drive (.67-.52=-.15).  If I drive 100 miles that is $15 dollars.  That puts me down to $135.  Then subtract the withholdings and I am at (135 - 15%) about $114 dollars a day in profit.  Over 5 days that is $573 that I net each week.  I can get that at Walmart.  I enjoyed the job this week while training.  But, the pay is not financially worth it.

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Wow! So, home health is paying LESS today than it was 15 years ago? What a slap in the face. You deserve better. Maybe try a rehab hospital. Pay is much better but it's hard work. 

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About two weeks ago, I came here asking if it was worth it to work as an HH care manager because I was going to work for an agency. I turned down the position. The agency I was going to go with would not pay for mileage from my house to the first PT and from the last PT to my house. This to me, is an insult. they would pay 45 per reg visit, 55 for recert, 65 per adm, and 57 cents/mile. They would not pay for documentation time... As nurses, we are much more cents per mile. I believe some agencies take us for granted way too often. .. after reading a lot of posts here, I am glad I did not go for it... I actually would not make anything out of it.  I hope you find something better.  I am in search of something better.

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Reading all people post in here. I am not sure if I will try to do home health nurse. I live the east bay Bay Area. It's is per visit here. Since I am not happy with home care jobs. I am not sure where To go. I am licensed nurse and I am not sure if I can handle nursing homes. I tried few times before and I cried. Should I changed career. 
Any ideas? 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
ZJ OnceHeartMore said:

About two weeks ago, I came here asking if it was worth it to work as an HH care manager because I was going to work for an agency. I turned down the position. The agency I was going to go with would not pay for mileage from my house to the first PT and from the last PT to my house. This to me, is an insult. they would pay 45 per reg visit, 55 for recert, 65 per adm, and 57 cents/mile. They would not pay for documentation time... As nurses, we are much more cents per mile. I believe some agencies take us for granted way too often. .. after reading a lot of posts here, I am glad I did not go for it... I actually would not make anything out of it.  I hope you find something better.  I am in search of something better.

IRS federal regulations mileage reimbursement does not cover

  • Traveling between your home and your main job
  • Traveling between your home and your second job

That's why home health nurses don't get paid from home to first client nor returning home at the end of the day.  If you have to pay for parking to visit a client, that should be charged to agency with a receipt attached.

Mileage reimbursement rate increased to .70Cents/mile for 2025.  If an agency does not pay this rate, can deduct difference on your taxes along with car depreciation.

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Is Working in Home Health Worth the Pay?

It depends on your goals, skills, and expectations. Home health care can be both financially and personally rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges.

✅ Why Home Health May Be Worth the Pay

Competitive Pay Rates

In many areas, home health nurses, aides, and therapists earn comparable or higher hourly rates than those in hospitals or clinics.

Private duty or specialized care (e.g., pediatric or hospice) often pays more.

Flexible Scheduling

Great for work-life balance. You often set your own hours or work part-time.

Ideal for parents, caregivers, or students.

Lower-Stress Environment

Avoid the high-pressure, fast-paced nature of hospitals.

You're typically seeing one patient at a time in a quiet home environment.

Personal Fulfillment

You build stronger relationships with patients and families.

You have a more direct impact on someone's quality of life.

❌ Potential Downsides to Consider

Unpaid Travel Time

You may drive between patients without pay or mileage reimbursement depending on the agency.

Unpredictable Schedules

Cancellations and last-minute changes are common.

Some cases may require evening or weekend visits.

Limited Career Growth

Less opportunity for advancement compared to hospitals unless you move into management or case coordination.

Documentation Burden

Home health often involves detailed charting, sometimes done outside of paid hours.

🔍 Verdict: Worth it if you value flexibility, independence, and patient connection.

If you're self-motivated, organized, and prefer one-on-one care, home health can absolutely be worth the pay. Just be sure to evaluate the specific employer's policies on pay structure, mileage, and benefits.

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Specializes in RN, Staff Developer, ADON.
ZJ OnceHeartMore said:

About two weeks ago, I came here asking if it was worth it to work as an HH care manager because I was going to work for an agency. I turned down the position. The agency I was going to go with would not pay for mileage from my house to the first PT and from the last PT to my house. This to me, is an insult. they would pay 45 per reg visit, 55 for recert, 65 per adm, and 57 cents/mile. They would not pay for documentation time... As nurses, we are much more cents per mile. I believe some agencies take us for granted way too often. .. after reading a lot of posts here, I am glad I did not go for it... I actually would not make anything out of it.  I hope you find something better.  I am in search of something better.

Not trying to sound rude, but do you expect to get paid driving to and from work if you work at a hospital or office or facility? Then why would you expect to be paid going to your first "job" of the day? I would typically just see a patient close to my home as my first and last patient. It was great when they were in my neighborhood. 

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