In-Home Supportive Services pay is hourly and set by each California county, with 2025 rates ranging roughly from the high $16s to the low $20s.
Searching for a straight answer on IHSS pay can be confusing because there isn’t one statewide rate. In-Home Supportive Services wages are negotiated county by county, paid hourly, and shaped by a few rules that also affect your paycheck (overtime, travel time, and pay periods). This guide brings the key numbers and rules into one place so you can estimate your pay with confidence.
How Much Money Does In-Home Supportive Services Pay? By The Numbers
At its core, IHSS pay is the hourly wage your county sets for providers. In 2025, large counties span a wide range. San Francisco moved to $22.00 per hour in January 2025 with a scheduled bump to $22.50 in July 2025, while Los Angeles lists $18.50. Several mid-sized counties sit around $19–$21. Local negotiations continue, so always verify your county’s current figure.
What Drives The Hourly Rate
- County wage supplement: Each county adds a local supplement on top of the statewide base.
- Union contracts: SEIU 2015 negotiates county agreements that set wage steps and timelines.
- State minimum wage floor: Counties can’t set rates below California’s minimum wage for the year.
2025 County Snapshot (Selected Counties)
This quick snapshot shows current public postings from county or official program pages. Rates can change mid-year when new agreements land.
| County | IHSS Hourly Rate (2025) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $22.00 (Jan 2025) → $22.50 (Jul 2025) | SFHSA wage schedule |
| Los Angeles | $18.50 | LA County DPSS |
| Marin | $19.25 (Feb 2025) | County board slide deck |
| Santa Clara | $20.04 (Jan 2025) | Public Authority Services |
| Napa | $20.00 (May 2024; stayed above state floor in 2025) | County announcement |
| Monterey | $19.24 (2025) | SEIU 2015 update |
| San Luis Obispo | $21.00 (2025) | County wages list |
| Sacramento | $18.65–$18.75 range in 2025 notices | SEIU 2015 notice |
If your county isn’t listed above, you can look up current figures on the California Department of Social Services page that compiles county IHSS wage rates. City or county minimum wage rules can also influence negotiations. The state floor for 2025 is posted by the California Labor Commissioner at the minimum wage page.
In-Home Supportive Services Pay Rates: What Else Affects Your Check
Your gross pay isn’t only the county rate. Overtime rules, travel time between recipients, and pay periods also matter. Getting these pieces right keeps your timesheets clean and your deposit on time.
Overtime Basics
IHSS pays time-and-a-half for hours over 40 in a workweek. That higher rate applies across your combined IHSS jobs when you work for more than one recipient. Los Angeles County’s FLSA guidance lays out these points plainly, and it matches statewide policy.
- When overtime applies: Any hours over 40 in the Sunday–Saturday workweek.
- How it’s calculated: 1.5 × your county hourly wage.
- Weekly cap: Most providers are capped at 66 hours across all recipients unless approved under limited exemptions.
References: LA County FLSA page; CDSS weekly hours cap.
Travel Time Between Recipients
Providers who serve more than one recipient on the same day can claim paid travel time when going directly from one recipient to another. Travel time doesn’t reduce the recipient’s care hours, and it’s limited to seven hours per week. It’s paid at your county wage.
References: State training materials outline the seven-hour weekly limit and how to claim it on a separate form. See the statewide policy handout and a Public Authority FAQ for details.
Pay Periods And Timesheets
IHSS runs two pay periods each month: the 1st–15th and the 16th–end of month. Submit timesheets through the Electronic Services Portal (ESP) based on the hours actually authorized and worked. Direct deposit speeds things up, and providers can access past pay stubs through ESP as well.
Reference: CDSS provider resources.
How To Estimate Your IHSS Pay
This section walks through quick math you can adapt to your situation. You’ll need your county’s hourly wage, your authorized weekly hours, and whether you expect overtime.
Step-By-Step Quick Math
- Grab your county rate. Use the table above or check your county page.
- Figure weekly hours. Start with authorized hours per week. If hours vary, use an average.
- Split base vs. overtime. Base is up to 40 hours; overtime is any hour over 40.
- Apply rates. Base hours × county wage; overtime hours × 1.5 × county wage.
- Add paid travel time if you go straight from one recipient to another on the same day (up to seven hours weekly).
Sample Weekly Scenarios
These are illustrations using posted county rates. Your numbers will differ if your local rate or weekly hours differ.
- San Francisco @ $22.00: 40 hours base = $880; 5 hours overtime = $165; weekly total = $1,045.
- Los Angeles @ $18.50: 35 hours base = $647.50; no overtime; weekly total = $647.50.
- Santa Clara @ $20.04: 40 hours base = $801.60; 10 hours overtime = $300.60; weekly total = $1,102.20.
How Much Money Does In-Home Supportive Services Pay? County Rates Move Over Time
You’ll see regular changes as local boards approve wage supplements and contracts roll forward. San Francisco posted a path from $22.00 to $22.50 in July 2025 and $23.00 in January 2026, with larger steps later. Several counties published 2025 notices showing increases tied to state adjustments and local negotiations.
Because the state floor can nudge talks, many counties reference the Labor Commissioner’s statewide posting when setting future steps. Check the minimum wage page each winter for any new base-rate changes.
Typical Pay Add-Ons And Limits
Beyond base and overtime, IHSS includes rules for travel time and paid sick leave accrual. A Public Authority site in San Luis Obispo describes the 16 hours of paid sick leave earned after 100 paid hours, with usage after additional hours worked. Many counties follow the same structure, though forms and contacts vary by county.
Reference: SLO Public Authority FAQ.
Overtime And Travel Time: What The Rules Pay
Here’s a compact rules table you can bookmark. It shows the pay effect, weekly limits, and where the rule applies.
| Rule | Pay Effect Or Limit | Where It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Over 40 Hours In A Week | 1.5 × county wage for each hour over 40 | All IHSS providers; Sunday–Saturday workweek |
| Weekly Hour Cap | Most providers capped at 66 total hours | Across all recipients; limited exemptions possible |
| Travel Time Between Recipients | Paid at county wage; up to 7 hours per week | Direct travel between IHSS job sites on the same day |
| Travel Time And Care Hours | Does not reduce a recipient’s authorized care hours | Travel is claimed on a separate form |
| Pay Periods | Two cycles: 1st–15th and 16th–end of month | Statewide; submit timesheets through ESP |
| Paid Sick Leave | Accrues based on paid hours; county posts how to claim | Forms and mailing addresses vary by county |
Net Pay: Taxes And Deductions In Plain English
Your pay warrant reflects standard payroll withholdings. Federal and state income taxes can be affected by your W-4 elections. Social Security and Medicare come out as FICA, and some counties add union dues or health-benefit premiums for workers who enroll. If you’re new to the program, the quickest way to read your stub is to view it in the ESP and match each line to the totals on your timesheet.
How To Keep Your Pay Flowing
- Match hours to the authorization. Work only the tasks and hours assigned to each recipient’s plan.
- Submit on the right cycle. Timesheets end on the 15th and the last day of the month.
- Claim travel time correctly. Only between IHSS job sites on the same day; use the separate claim form.
- Watch the weekly cap. If you serve multiple recipients, track totals so you don’t exceed the 66-hour limit unless you have an approved exemption.
Where To Check Your Exact County Rate Today
For current figures, start with your county’s IHSS or Public Authority page. Many counties keep a pay tile on the provider page. When a rate isn’t posted clearly, the statewide page that compiles county IHSS wage rates is your next stop. Pair that with any latest county board agendas or Public Authority notices. A few quick links that stay fresh:
Fast FAQ-Style Clarity Without The FAQs
Is IHSS A Salary Or Hourly Pay?
Hourly. Your gross equals hours worked × your county rate, plus any overtime and paid travel time.
Do IHSS Rates Ever Drop?
IHSS rates are set through county agreements and state funding approvals. The trend the past few years has been upward as counties renew contracts.
Can Two Counties Pay Me Different Rates?
Yes. Your rate follows the recipient’s county. If you work for recipients in two counties, each set of hours pays at that county’s rate.
Bottom-Line Takeaway
If you’re asking, “How Much Money Does In-Home Supportive Services Pay?” the practical answer is that your county sets the starting point and IHSS rules shape the rest. In 2025, common rates cluster near $19–$21 per hour, with San Francisco leading at $22–$22.50 and Los Angeles posting $18.50. Add time-and-a-half for weekly hours over 40, claim paid travel time between recipients within the seven-hour weekly limit, and submit timesheets on the two monthly cycles. Check your county page and the statewide wage-rates list regularly, since new agreements can land mid-year.