The 2026 individual caregiver rate is $17.13 per hour. That's the number everything else builds from, but the real question families ask is: what does that look like as an actual paycheck?
It depends entirely on approved hours
Pay is hourly, not a flat stipend. MDHHS approves a set number of monthly hours based on your loved one's home assessment — commonly up to 180 — and you're paid for the hours you actually work and log through EVV, up to that approved amount.
A rough example
At 180 approved hours a month, that's roughly $3,083/month before taxes. Most families are approved for fewer hours than the maximum, since approved hours track documented need, not a flat default.
What affects your actual take-home
Consistent EVV clock-ins matter more than people expect — missed or incomplete visits are the most common cause of payment delays. Tax treatment also varies by situation; that's covered separately in our pay guide's tax section.
Want the full breakdown, including how EVV connects to payment timing? See our complete 2026 pay guide.