Employee turnover rates in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)/Life Plan Communities continued their downward trajectory, according to the newly released 2026-2027 CCRC Salary & Benefits Report published annually by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS) in cooperation with LeadingAge.
After peaking during 2022/2023, turnover across all surveyed departments and jobs has been steadily declining, moving progressively closer to the standard pre-pandemic baseline levels observed prior to 2020.
Over the last few years, CCRC compensation strategies have shifted from reactive crisis management/strategic investment towards strengthening service quality and resident satisfaction. After navigating initial survival challenges, stabilizing executive leadership, and establishing sustainable recruitment/training practices, CCRCs are building upon their solid foundation of care to further enrich the complete resident experience.
Sign-on bonuses continue to be utilized as a means of attracting new personnel, although their prevalence has adjusted downward in alignment with the stabilized hiring climate. 50.23% of participating communities reported offering sign-on bonuses, representing a consistent multi-year contraction from 55.70% in 2025, 56.60% in 2024, and a high of 64.19% in 2023. This steady reduction further underscores that recruitment has become less of an acute operational struggle for CCRCs/LPCs.
This year marks the 29th annual year of publication of the Report. 495 CCRCs participated and provided compensation data on more than 90,190 employees, covering 47 management and 55 nonmanagement positions. 86.67% of study participants were not-for-profit facilities; 66.67% of not-for-profit respondents were religiously affiliated. The effective date of study data is March 1, 2026. Findings are reported according to revenue size, total unit size, region, state, and CBSA. The Report also includes 18 fringe benefits, turnover/vacancy rates by department, shift differentials, and projected salary increases by department for 2026 to 2027.
The CCRC Report is available for $400. To order, visit the HCS website at www.hhcsinc.com or call (201) 405-0075.
The HCS Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Report will be published in late July. The Assisted Living Report was released earlier this year. Both studies are supported by AHCA/NCAL.