New HCS/AHCA Nursing Home Report Available
September 1, 2026
Executive Pay Rises as Turnover and Sign-On Bonuses Decline in 2026
Oakland, NJ, August 2026 – Turnover rates and sign-on bonus usage continued to decline in 2026, while executive
leadership and key department heads saw the largest compensation increases, according to the 2026-2027 Nursing
Home Salary & Benefits Report. The national study is published by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS)
and supported by AHCA.
Based on trend data from participants who submitted data in both the current and prior year’s studies, compensation
growth concentrated heavily in core administrative and operational leadership. The positions receiving the highest
percent increases included Nursing Home Administrators, CFOs, HR Directors, Directors of Staff Development, Life
Enrichment Directors, Directors of Social Services, and Directors of Facility/Plant Operations. This targeted wage growth
underscores a deliberate effort by facility leadership to stabilize key department heads who directly influence financial
strategy, employee retention, and resident quality of life, highlighting that frontline retention depends heavily on
leadership quality.
2025-2026 Trend Data Increases
2026 2025
Nursing Home Administrator 3.71% 3.32%
Director of Facilities/Plant Operations 3.82% 3.61%
Director of Social Services 3.66% 1.44%
*The trend rate represents the percent increase from those that participated in both the current/previous year’s study.
National data: 2025-2026 Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Reports.
Turnover rates continued their downward trajectory after peaking in 2022, signaling a broader recovery in workforce
stability across nursing facilities. This labor market normalization is further evidenced by a steady shift in recruitment
tactics; while sign-on bonuses remain an active tool for talent acquisition, their usage has steadily cooled. In 2026,
54.38% of respondents reported utilizing sign-on bonuses, down from 55.61% in 2025 and 65.44% in 2024. While RNs,
LPNs, and CNAs remain the primary recipients of these bonuses, significantly fewer facilities reported offering incentives
for Medication Techs, Resident Assistants, or Dining and Kitchen staff in 2026.
This year marks the 49 th annual year of publication. 947 nursing homes participated in the study and provided
compensation data on 126,050+ employees, covering 47 management and 55 nonmanagement positions. 58.50% of
study participants were notforprofit facilities, while 41.50% were for-profit facilities. The results are reported according
to revenue size, profit type, bed-size, region, state, and CBSA. The Report includes 18 fringe benefits, as well as shift
differentials, actual/projected salary increases by department for 2026 to 2027, turnover/vacancy rates, and sign-on
bonuses. Data in the study are effective as of March 2026.
The Nursing Home Report is available for $400; the discounted rate for AHCA/NCAL members is $325. To order online,
visit the HCS website at www.hhcsinc.com or call (201) 405-0075. HCS released a separate CCRC Salary & Benefits
Report last month, as well as its Assisted Living Salary & Benefits Report earlier this year.
HCS, founded in 1971, is recognized as the leader in national healthcare salary and benefits research. HCS conducts
national and custom marketplace studies, publishing more than ten specialized Reports each year.