Home Health Aide Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Home health aides in Tucson bring bathing, mobility help and basic health checks into patients' homes, from midtown to Oro Valley and Green Valley. Posted pay runs about $16 to $25 an hour, higher for CNAs. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and the training agencies require.
Current Home Health Aide Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Home Health Aide Work in Tucson
Home health aide work in Tucson runs through agencies, not hospitals. National home health companies and hospice providers send aides to patients recovering from surgery, living with a chronic illness or in their last months, while private-duty agencies place aides with older adults who want to stay in their own homes. The territory is wide: BAYADA's Tucson postings cover Oro Valley, Marana, Green Valley and as far south as Nogales, so aides spend much of the day driving between homes on Oracle Road, Ina, Valencia and I-19.
The title means more here than it sounds. Medicare-certified home health agencies must use aides who meet federal training and competency rules, and Arizona's developmental disabilities program lets only Medicare-certified agencies bill for home health aide services. Private-duty agencies that serve ALTCS members follow the AHCCCS direct care worker rules instead. That is why some Tucson postings ask for a CNA or LNA while others ask only for Arizona DCW certification and a year of caregiving.
Top Tucson Employers for Home Health Aides
These Tucson-area employers hire home health aides:
- BAYADA Home Health Care - per diem home health aides for Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana and Green Valley, with a current CNA or LNA required.
- Preferred Care at Home of Tucson - in-home aides for older adults across Tucson and nearby Southern Arizona, helping new hires earn DCW certification, CPR and first aid.
- Northwest Home Care (LHC Group) - home health agency that has hired PRN home health aides in Tucson who pass a competency evaluation.
- Casa de la Luz Hospice - hospice aides with CNA certification in Tucson.
- Amada Senior Care Tucson - hires CNAs, home health aides and personal care aides, full and part time, and trains new hires.
Home Health Aide Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (DCW-certified aide, under 1 year): roughly $16 to $18 an hour.
- Experienced (CNA or LNA in home health): roughly $18 to $21 an hour.
- Senior (hospice aide, per diem or specialty cases): roughly $21 to $25 an hour.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Recent Tucson postings ran from $15 to $16 at Amada and $17 to start at Preferred Care at Home to $16.75 to $30 for a BAYADA per diem aide and $16.00 to $27.69 for a Casa de la Luz hospice aide. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics put Tucson's healthcare support group at a mean of $19.22 an hour in May 2025. A CNA or LNA, hospice experience and weekend or per diem availability move pay up.
How to Become a Home Health Aide in Tucson
There is no separate Arizona home health aide license. At a Medicare-certified agency, federal rules require at least 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training, including 16 hours of hands-on work under a registered nurse, plus a competency evaluation and 12 hours of in-service training a year. Many Tucson agencies meet that by hiring certified nursing assistants: Pima Community College's Nursing Assistant Certificate takes 8 weeks at the West Campus and prepares you for the Arizona nursing assistant exam, which leads to the Arizona State Board of Nursing's CNA registry or an LNA license. Private-duty and ALTCS work instead follows AHCCCS Direct Care Worker Training and Testing, with competency tests due within 90 days of hire. High school students can earn Certified Caregiver and CNA credentials through Pima JTED.
What the Job Involves
You visit patients on a schedule set by a nurse, help them bathe, dress, use the toilet and move safely between bed, chair and car, and check and record vital signs when the care plan calls for it. You report changes in skin, appetite, mood or breathing to the supervising nurse, keep visit notes on a phone or tablet, do light housekeeping tied to the patient's care, and drive to the next home.
Skills Employers Look For
- A CNA or LNA in good standing, or Arizona DCW certification
- A valid driver's license, insurance and a reliable car with working A/C
- Safe transfers and lifting, including gait belts and mechanical lifts
- Accurate vital signs and visit notes
- CPR and first aid, plus a negative TB test
- Patience and clear communication with older patients and their families
- Comfort documenting visits on a phone or tablet
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tucson aides start in private-duty care with a DCW certificate, earn a CNA to move into Medicare home health or hospice, and then use Pima's Practical Nurse Certificate or Nursing AAS at the West Campus to become an LPN or RN. Others move up inside an agency to scheduler, care coordinator or field supervisor roles.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for home health aides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a home health aide in Arizona?
Arizona has no separate home health aide license. Medicare-certified agencies require federal training of at least 75 hours and a competency evaluation, and many Tucson agencies ask for a CNA or LNA from the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Private-duty agencies usually ask for AHCCCS DCW certification instead.
How much do home health aides make in Tucson?
Most earn roughly $16 to $21 an hour, with hospice and per diem aides reaching about $25. Recent postings ranged from $17 to start at Preferred Care at Home to $16.75 to $30 for BAYADA per diem work.
What is the difference between a home health aide and a caregiver?
A home health aide works under a nurse's care plan, often for a Medicare-certified agency, and can take vital signs and help with recovery. A caregiver or companion usually provides non-medical help with daily living through a private-duty agency.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Tucson?
Pima Community College's Nursing Assistant Certificate takes 8 weeks in person at the West Campus on Anklam Road. After that you take the Arizona nursing assistant exam to join the CNA registry or apply for an LNA license.
Do I need my own car to be a home health aide in Tucson?
Almost always. Tucson agencies send aides to patients' homes across the metro, and postings from BAYADA and Northwest Home Care require a driver's license, insurance and dependable transportation.
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