IHSS Wages by County — 2026

IHSS caregiver wages in California are negotiated county by county, which means your paycheck depends heavily on where you work. At first glance, counties like San Francisco and San Mateo appear to pay significantly more — and they do. But cost of living tells a very different story. A caregiver earning $23/hour in San Francisco may actually have less purchasing power than one earning $18/hour in a rural county where rent, groceries, and transportation cost a fraction of the price.

The gap between the lowest and highest paying counties is over $6 per hour — but the real disparity is in how far that money goes. Below is the current hourly wage for each of California’s 58 counties as of 2026. If your county isn’t listed or you need more specific information, contact your county IHSS office or your local union directly.