How much do family caregivers get paid in Tennessee?
Around $11–$19.16/hr — and here is what moves that number.
Your pay is not a posted wage. It comes out of a care budget that Tennessee sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers in the same town can be paid differently.
What Tennessee pays family caregivers
$11–$19.16/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Tennessee Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
consumer-directed, but all consumer-direction payroll must run through the fiscal employer agent Consumer Direct Care Network Tennessee (CDTN)
- Spouse can be paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Some programs have no waitlist.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Tennessee it runs through TennCare CHOICES consumer direction, ECF CHOICES, Katie Beckett (children), administered by TennCare Long-Term Services & Supports (LTSS) Division; AAAD intake 1-866-836-6678; LTSS Help Desk 1-877-224-0219
1.3 million people in Tennessee — 18% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 95 counties. The programs on this page exist because caring for them at home costs the state far less than a nursing home does.
From first call to first paycheck
- 2 minutes
Check eligibility
Five questions tell you which Tennessee program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Tennessee confirms your relative qualifies and how much help they need. The hours in that assessment become your paid hours.
- after approval
Enrol and hire
Your relative enrols, then names you as their caregiver. Background check, paperwork, done.
- every pay period
Get paid
You log the hours you already work and are paid for them, like any job.
How to start in Tennessee: Current TennCare members contact their managed care organization (health plan); everyone else calls their local Area Agency on Aging and Disability at 1-866-836-6678 to start CHOICES screening.
Tennessee pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Tennessee?
Figures reported for Tennessee land around $11–$19.16/hr, but that is a range, not a promise. Your rate is set inside your relative's care plan and budget. We tell you your real number before you enroll.
What decides my exact hourly rate?
Three things: how much help your relative is assessed as needing, which Tennessee program they are on, and who administers the payroll. consumer-directed, but all consumer-direction payroll must run through the fiscal employer agent Consumer Direct Care Network Tennessee (CDTN)
How many hours a week can I be paid for?
Hours come from the care assessment, not from how many you actually work. That is the single biggest thing families get wrong — an honest assessment is worth more than any negotiation later. We help you prepare for it.
Is family caregiver pay taxable?
Usually yes — it is normally treated as wages, with taxes withheld. One exception is worth asking about: the IRS difficulty-of-care rule can make some payments tax-free when the caregiver lives with the person receiving care.
Can I be paid to care for my spouse in Tennessee?
no — spouses, legal guardians, and powers of attorney cannot be hired; adult children and other relatives can There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Tennessee.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Tennessee?
limited — CHOICES serves only adults 21+ with disabilities and seniors 65+; children go through Katie Beckett / ECF CHOICES, whose consumer direction may pay family
Is there a waitlist in Tennessee?
not an entitlement — CHOICES Groups 2/3 have limited enrollment slots and a waitlist can form
How do I apply in Tennessee?
Current TennCare members contact their managed care organization (health plan); everyone else calls their local Area Agency on Aging and Disability at 1-866-836-6678 to start CHOICES screening.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Tennessee →
Sources: tn.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Tennessee caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Tennessee — pick yours for the local picture.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.