How to hire a caregiver assistant

How to hire a caregiver assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step caregiver assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a caregiver assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The caregiver assistant 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 caregiver assistant 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 caregiver assistant that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of caregivers assistant and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Caregiver Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Caregiver Assistant	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.	$11-18
   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:

   • Compassion
   • Customer Service
   • Senior Care
   • Meal Prep
   • Direct Care
   • Patients
   • Companionship
   • PET
   • CPR
   • Vital Signs
   • ADL
   • Home Health
   • Care Plan
   • Blood Pressure

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist residents with bathing and other ADL's.
   • Provide care and assistance to private individual including all ADL's.
   • Provide care for residents with special conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
   • Provide assistance for primary caregiver by providing companionship to elderly client.
   • Provide companionship services that stimulate, encourage, and assist seniors.
   • Provide evidence based psychological therapy to patients with common mental health problems.

   More caregiver assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the caregiver assistant job description is a good way to get more applicants. A caregiver assistant salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a caregiver assistant in South Carolina may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level caregiver assistant. Additionally, a caregiver assistant with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average caregiver assistant salary

   $14.65hourly

   $30,471 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level caregiver assistant salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average caregiver assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$35,777	$17
   2	California	$34,211	$16
   3	Oregon	$34,133	$16
   4	New Jersey	$34,014	$16
   5	Wisconsin	$32,146	$15
   6	Michigan	$31,741	$15
   7	Colorado	$29,994	$14
   8	Illinois	$29,755	$14
   9	Minnesota	$29,534	$14
   10	Delaware	$28,299	$14
   11	Arizona	$27,156	$13
   12	North Carolina	$23,477	$11
   13	Texas	$21,640	$10

   Average caregiver assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Center for Enriched Living	$35,866	$17.24	3
   2	Solera	$34,591	$16.63
   3	Kettering Health Network	$33,034	$15.88	3
   4	Ridgeview	$32,558	$15.65	9
   5	American Senior Benefits	$31,911	$15.34	114
   6	Bridge Investment Group	$31,352	$15.07
   7	Denton County	$30,559	$14.69	1
   8	Sunrise Senior Living Management Inc	$30,384	$14.61	154
   9	Franklin	$30,278	$14.56	13
   10	Maravilla Foundation	$30,245	$14.54	3
   11	Silverado	$29,941	$14.39	67
   12	Three Pillars Senior Living Communities	$29,756	$14.31	6
   13	Augustana Care	$29,589	$14.23	41
   14	WesleyLife	$29,510	$14.19	7
   15	HOM Furniture	$29,441	$14.15
   16	Balfour Senior Living	$29,321	$14.10	1
   17	Five Star Senior Living	$29,232	$14.05	10
   18	Sonida Senior Living	$29,018	$13.95	42
   19	BrightStar Care	$28,948	$13.92	663
   20	Open Arms	$28,945	$13.92

4. Writing a caregiver assistant job description

   A caregiver assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a caregiver assistant job description:

   Caregiver assistant job description example

5. Medication Administration: 1 year (Preferred)

6. CNA (Preferred)

7. Certified Medication Aide (Preferred)


Full Job Description

CARING SENIOR LIVING, Inc.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Certified Medication Assistant (CMA)

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Director of Nursing (DON), Administrator of Assisting Living Program and/ or the Director of the Assisted Living Programs.

JOB SUMMARY: The Certified Medication Assistant assists Residents with Medication Administration & treatments under the direction of the RN. The CMA shall also be responsible for providing personal care to Assisted Living Residents, providing light housekeeping and maintaining the cleanliness and neatness of resident apartments, resident's laundry and assistance in dining services.

QUALIFICATIONS: High School Diploma or GED

Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate or

Certified Home Health Aide Certificate

1 year of CNA / CHHA experience

Successful completion of medication administration

training course & statewide standardized, written

competency test.

CMA certification in the state of New Jersey

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

· Maintains a working relationship with the LPN, DON, Assisted living Administrators and all other nursing staff.

· Maintains a professional relationship with all residents.

· Maintains confidentiality of verbal and written information pertaining to residents, facility operations and other personnel.

· Maintains residents privacy and dignity.

· Encourages residents to maintain their independency.

· Has a full understanding of fire, emergency and safety procedure.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Certified Medication Assistant (cont.)

· Adheres to policies and procedures and standards regarding infection control.

· Has a full understanding of the hazards and safety of oxygen being used by residents.

· Assist residents with medication administration following proper medication techniques as learned in CMA course.

· Be able to properly demonstrate the FIVE RIGHTS of medication administration and Safe Medication Practices.

· Maintain frequent close communication with the RN.

· Properly identify medication and residents before administering medication.

· Document on MARS when medication has or has not been given.

· Notify LPN / RN if resident not given or refuses medication.

· Notify LPN / RN immediately if medication error has occurred and document appropriately.

· Check all meds daily and call pharmacy for needed refills.

· Quarterly, direct observation and supervision of the medication administration task by the RN.

· Receive medications from pharmacy and document that they were delivered.

· Provides AM & PM personal care to assigned residents including partial or complete bath, oral hygiene, care of hair, incontinence care including changing adult briefs as needed.

· Takes weights and vital signs (TPR & BP) monthly & as requested by nurse, record and report results to nurse.

· Provide ambulation assistance as needed

· Assist with transfer to & from bed.

· Report any change in resident status to nurse immediately.

· Respond to emergency calls & assist nurse as needed.

· Report any accidents, injuries, or complaints to nurse or administrator immediately.

· Deliver supplies and equipment to residents.

· Provide light housekeeping.

· Cleans refrigerator, stove/oven, cabinets and silverware drawers as needed.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Certified Medication Assistant (cont. 'd)

· Vacuum and dust as needed

· Assist with laundry: washing & drying clothes, folding laundry and putting away.

· Strip and remake bed as needed but at least 1x per week.

· Clean the bathroom including bathroom floor, vanity, toilet, and shower/tub.

· Removes trash from residents apartments daily.

· Assist resident with meal service as needed. Ex: meal preparation & cutting up foods, set-up, clearing and washing dishes.

· Report any unsafe equipment to nurse / administrator.

· Maintain the cleanliness and neatness of the storage room and inventory of supplies.

· Removal of trash from Administrator / Nursing offices.

· Abides by established guidelines of the facility and governing regulations.

· Any other responsibilities deemed necessary by the administrator.'
'
Benefit Conditions:

• Only full-time employees eligible

COVID-19 Precaution(s):

• Personal protective equipment provided or required
• Temperature screenings
• Social distancing guidelines in place
• Sanitizing, disinfecting, or cleaning procedures in place