How to hire a care provider

How to hire a care provider, step by step

Here's a step-by-step care provider hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a care provider job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new care provider
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a care provider do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The care provider hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a care provider to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a care provider that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of care providers.

   Type of Care Provider	Description	Hourly rate
   Care Provider	Personal care aides help clients with self-care and everyday tasks. They also provide social supports and assistance that enable clients to participate in their communities.	$8-24
   Attending, Ambulatory Care	An attending, ambulatory care is responsible for providing patient care, supporting ongoing treatment of health issues, and managing recovery through coordinating with attending physicians or other medical professionals. They evaluate medical records, including history and consultation purposes, develop a necessary care plan, keep an accurate medical chart, and schedule laboratory tests and follow-up as needed... Show more	$9-20
   Companion	A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients... Show more	$10-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Senior Care
   • Patients
   • Administer Medications
   • Direct Care
   • Meal Prep
   • Patient Care
   • Customer Service
   • Compassion
   • CPR
   • Companionship
   • Laundry Services
   • RUN Errands
   • ADL
   • Developmental Disabilities

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage provider network to include verifying claims and benefits for healthcare providers/members and insurance companies.
   • Aid and facilitate higher functioning patients reach their fullest potential while managing behavioral episodes as needed.
   • Accompany to medical appointments, administer medications, assist with ADL's, community integration, personal care, and therapeutic activities
   • Review appeals for Medicare non-participating providers following CMS specific guidelines for these providers.
   • Provide direct patient care to critical and non-critical emergency department patients as an experience EMT-Paramedic.
   • Change tracheal tube and catheter.

   More care provider duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your care provider job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A care provider salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, care providers' average salary in louisiana is 46% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level care providers earn 67% less than senior-level care providers.
   • Certifications. A care provider with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a care provider's salary.

   Average care provider salary

   $14.26hourly

   $29,652 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level care provider salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average care provider salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$38,630	$19
   2	New Jersey	$34,943	$17
   3	New York	$33,635	$16
   4	Ohio	$33,483	$16
   5	Washington	$33,199	$16
   6	Nevada	$31,453	$15
   7	California	$30,616	$15
   8	New Hampshire	$29,655	$14
   9	Pennsylvania	$29,566	$14
   10	Illinois	$28,069	$13
   11	Colorado	$27,222	$13
   12	Iowa	$26,749	$13
   13	Nebraska	$25,888	$12
   14	Virginia	$25,267	$12
   15	Utah	$24,389	$12
   16	Tennessee	$23,657	$11
   17	North Carolina	$23,644	$11
   18	Texas	$23,387	$11
   19	Indiana	$23,313	$11
   20	South Carolina	$22,946	$11

   Average care provider salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	$70,294	$33.80
   2	Massachusetts General Hospital	$69,451	$33.39
   3	Seattle Cancer Care Alliance	$68,904	$33.13
   4	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	$65,586	$31.53	36
   5	University Hospitals	$57,457	$27.62	24
   6	UC Merced	$56,474	$27.15
   7	Baystate Health	$55,138	$26.51	1
   8	University of California	$51,980	$24.99	35
   9	UC Santa Barbara	$51,531	$24.77
   10	University of California-Berkeley	$50,426	$24.24	1
   11	Cottage Health	$46,055	$22.14	33
   12	Northwell Health	$45,851	$22.04	85
   13	University of Washington	$39,791	$19.13	27
   14	Central Vermont Medical Center	$39,132	$18.81
   15	Touro College	$37,930	$18.24	5
   16	HearingLife	$37,186	$17.88
   17	Highmark	$35,765	$17.19	82
   18	Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners	$35,637	$17.13	6
   19	OSF HealthCare	$35,472	$17.05	113
   20	Catholic Health East	$34,920	$16.79	4

4. Writing a care provider job description

   A good care provider job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a care provider job description:

   Care provider job description example

   The Advance Practice Provider provides a comprehensive health assessment and evaluation for patients in the clinic under the supervision of the Medical Director or works with physician in a surgical capacity in the operating room. Provides health care services to patients in a under direction and responsibility of Physician including assessing, diagnosing, prescribing, treating, and educating patients. Works closely with physicians and other clinicians in a team approach to patient care. May specialize in a specific type of clinical care, e.g., geriatrics. Orders and interprets appropriate tests i.e. labs, EKG, and Xrays under Physician supervision.
   
   The person in this position works under general supervision, is responsible for various shifts, may be subject to over 40 hours per week and/or callback as required, and may also be required to remain on campus immediately before, during, and after severe weather and/or disasters
   
   Baptist Health Care is a not-for-profit health care system committed to improving the quality of life for people and communities in northwest Florida and south Alabama. The organization is a proud a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and includes three hospitals, four medical parks, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine, and an extensive primary and specialty care provider network. With more than 4,000 team members, Baptist Health Care is one of the largest non-governmental employers in northwest Florida. Assesses patient status by obtaining health history through interviews and chart reviews; assessing presenting illness, risk factors, and family history, psychosocial situation, and cultural factors; and performing appropriate examination. Orders or performs appropriate laboratory diagnostic and other screening tests. Seeks other information as needed, including consultation with physicians for evaluation of illness. Integrates data to determine diagnosis and therapeutic plan, including identification of any health risks. Develops and implements treatment plan by prescribing/dispensing medications and/or injections in compliance with medical practice guidelines and state laws. Instructs and counsels patients regarding compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance. Participates in peer reviews, chart reviews, staff education, clinical guideline development, and other continuing education and quality assurance activities to demonstrate compliance with standards, regulations, policies, and procedures. Develops and implements patient management plans, records progress notes, and assists in provision of continuity of care. Collaborates with physicians in managing acute and long-term medical needs of patient. Provides monitoring and continuity of care between visits according to treatment plan including triaging patient calls/e-mails. Functioning in a "First Assist" capacity to physician in the operating room, as outlined in the Medical Staff Bylaws. If applicable.Assist in other duties as assigned to support the operational needs of the department and organization. May be required to remain on campus immediately before, during, and after severe weather and/or disasters.
   
   + Masters in Physician Assistant Studies, Health Science or Medical Science or Nursing required. Successful completion of physician assistant/Advanced Practice RN training and certification as a physician assistant/APRN (general or specialized) from an approved program.
   + Relevant experience in developing and running patient care programs.
   
   + Current PA or APRN License in the State of Florida.
   
   + Certified as National Commissioned Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) required.
   
   + BLS and ACLS through American Heart Association. Knowledge of advanced practice including anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics, basic nutrition, behavioral factors, psychosocial/family systems, diagnostic testing, interpretation of results and clinical decision making, alternative treatment modalities.
   
   + Basic Computer Skills.
   
   + Ability to document and utilize electronic health record applications.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find care providers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any care providers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level care providers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your care provider job on Zippia to find and recruit care provider candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting care providers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new care provider

   Once you've selected the best care provider candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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