What family caregivers are paid in Texas
Around $13–$15/hr. Your pay is not a posted wage — it comes out of a care budget Texas sets from your relative's assessed needs, which is why two caregivers on the same street can be paid differently.
Texas at a glance
- Reported pay
- $13–$15/hr
- Programs
- 3
- Spouse pay
- No
- Waitlist
- Long
set inside the care plan
that can pay a relative
full rule on the spouse page
apply early either way
- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
What Texas pays family caregivers
$13–$15/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Texas Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
What sets your number
self-directed, but every CDS employer must use a financial management services agency (FMSA) for payroll, taxes, and background checks
- Spouse can be paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- Waitlists can be long — apply early.
Where the money comes from
This is Medicaid money, not a grant and not a charity. In Texas it runs through Consumer Directed Services (CDS), STAR+PLUS HCBS, CLASS & MDCP Waivers, administered by Texas Health & Human Services Commission (HHSC); interest lists 877-438-5658 (CLASS/MDCP) and 800-964-2777 (STAR+PLUS HCBS)
4.4 million people in Texas — 14% of the state — are 65 or older, spread across 254 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 Texas program fits, and roughly what it pays.
- usually weeks
Medicaid + care assessment
Texas 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 Texas: Call 877-438-5658 to join the CLASS or MDCP interest list, or 800-964-2777 for the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list; benefits applications go through YourTexasBenefits.com or 2-1-1 Texas.
Texas pay questions, answered honestly
How much do family caregivers get paid in Texas?
Figures reported for Texas land around $13–$15/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 Texas program they are on, and who administers the payroll. self-directed, but every CDS employer must use a financial management services agency (FMSA) for payroll, taxes, and background checks
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 Texas?
no — spouses cannot be paid attendants in Medicaid CDS programs; reported exception: state-funded CMPAS may allow a spouse There is a full page on this: see spousal caregiver pay in Texas.
Can a parent be paid for caring for their own child in Texas?
no — a legally responsible parent (or foster parent, or spouse of a parent) cannot be the paid attendant for their minor child (e.g. CAS rule); parents of adult children CAN be paid
Is there a waitlist in Texas?
severe — STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list wait is 'many years' (~5,034 reported); CLASS ~48,169 and MDCP ~27,012 on interest lists with waits reported up to ~13-15 years
How do I apply in Texas?
Call 877-438-5658 to join the CLASS or MDCP interest list, or 800-964-2777 for the STAR+PLUS HCBS interest list; benefits applications go through YourTexasBenefits.com or 2-1-1 Texas.
Married and caring for your husband or wife? Read the spouse rules for Texas →
Sources: hhs.texas.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rates change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For Texas families
Start with the Texas caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Where most Texas caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Texas — 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.