CNA Home Care in San Marcos, CA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in San Marcos, CA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

555

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$16.50

median hourly wage of home care aides in California (BLS, May 2025); now below the $16.90 minimum

$16.90

California minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to San Marcos are Village Square Healthcare Center in San Marcos (1.7 mi), Valley Vista Post Acute in Escondido (4.8 mi), Meadowbrook Village Christian Retirement Community in Escondido (4.9 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in California earn a median $16.50 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). That May 2025 figure is below today's $16.90 California minimum wage, so current pay starts at least there. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

San Marcos has about 1,809 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

San Marcos compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	San Marcos	San Diego County	California
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%	33%
Residents 65 or older	13%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	22%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.5%	5.5%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,304	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around San Marcos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Lake San Marcos, CA	2.3 mi	2,192	393
Harmony Grove, CA	2.9 mi	132	15
Escondido, CA	5.5 mi	21,596	2,914
Vista, CA	5.6 mi	12,926	1,333
Carlsbad, CA	6.6 mi	21,458	2,311
Hidden Meadows, CA	6.9 mi	1,458	141

Nursing homes near San Marcos

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Village Square Healthcare Center	San Marcos, CA	1.7 mi	4 of 5	118	(760) 471-2986
Valley Vista Post Acute	Escondido, CA	4.8 mi	4 of 5	59	(760) 745-1842
Meadowbrook Village Christian Retirement Community	Escondido, CA	4.9 mi	5 of 5	19	(760) 746-2500
Escondido Post Acute	Escondido, CA	5.2 mi	5 of 5	180	(760) 747-0430
Redwood Terrace Health Center	Escondido, CA	5.5 mi	5 of 5	59	(760) 747-4306
Ocean View Post Acute	Escondido, CA	5.7 mi	4 of 5	120	(760) 741-6109

Home health agencies serving San Marcos

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Trio Home Health Care Of San Diego Inc	Encinitas, CA	7.9 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(760) 632-8746
Archer Health Inc	Carlsbad, CA	9.2 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 689-5049
Advantage Health Systems	San Diego, CA	15 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 433-0469
Absolute Home Health Inc	San Diego, CA	23 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 541-2000

Straight-line miles from the center of San Marcos. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs costs in San Marcos

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,275 monthly median income of San Marcos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Nursing Assistants in San Marcos: common questions

What nursing homes are near San Marcos?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Village Square Healthcare Center in San Marcos (1.7 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Valley Vista Post Acute in Escondido (4.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Meadowbrook Village Christian Retirement Community in Escondido (4.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in San Marcos?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,275 monthly median income of San Marcos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near San Marcos

More senior care near San Marcos

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in San Marcos

More for San Marcos families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in San Marcos, CA