How much should a caregiver get paid when working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week?

Your hourly rate will depend upon many things. You will be paid according to skills, training, job description, experience, going rate for your services in your area, whether you work for an agency or not, et al, UNLESS you are speaking of being a family member or friend expecting to get paid by the government for caring for an elderly or disabled person. In that case expectations will fall far short of what is paid for this job.

I live in NJ too. The internet says about $17 and hour for an unexperienced CNA. Someone without certification and no experience, I would pay maybe $10. I paid a woman $15 an hour 5 years ago to just bathe my Mom.

If Mom is on section 8, who do you think will pay you? Not sure if NJ Medicaid pays family members and if they do won't be much. You may be better off keeping your job and seeing if Mom can get some "in home" help thru Medicaid. Call your County Office if Aging and see what resources they have.

I paid $25/hour in Southern California.

I'd say the range is about $18-$25, depending on where you live.