Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Professional in New Mexico is $32,803 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.
However, a Direct Support Professional's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered HR
Direct Support Professional Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $35,123 | $2,927 | $675 | $17 |
| Average | $32,803 | $2,734 | $631 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,542 | $2,545 | $587 | $15 |
Santa Lucia - Santa Fe, NM
Dungarvin - Albuquerque, NM
Sevita - Farmington, NM
Sevita - Albuquerque, NM
A Direct Support Professional's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Support Professional's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Direct Su... Level Direct Support Professional | $32,632 |
| Home Care... Level Direct Support Professional | $29,445 |
| Home Care... Level Direct Support Professional | $35,400 |
| Home Care... Level Direct Support Professional | $39,510 |
| Home Care... Level Direct Support Professional | $39,561 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Direct Support Professionals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Direct Support Professional roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Direct Support Professional positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Direct Support Professional as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $39,363 | $19.0 | 20% |
Understanding how a Direct Support Professional's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $35,123 | $2,927 | $675 | $17 |
| Average | $32,803 | $2,734 | $631 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $30,542 | $2,545 | $587 | $15 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Direct Support Professional job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Alianza Family Services
Albuquerque, NM
Alianza Family Services | Albuquerque, NM
Alianza Family Services is hiring Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to support individuals with developmental disabilities in a group home environment.In... more
6 Days Ago
Community Options, Inc.
Santa Fe, NM
Community Options, Inc. | Santa Fe, NM
Description Community Options, Inc.is a national non-profit agency providing services to individuals with disabilities in 12 states.We are Now Hiring Full-... more
6 Days Ago
Mandy's Farm
Albuquerque, NM
Mandy's Farm | Albuquerque, NM
90 Day $250 Sign-On Bonus Title:Direct Support Professional. Reports Directly To:Program Manager Starting Wage:$16.00/hour (BASE WAGE), Increases Depending... more
6 Days Ago
Sevita Events
Farmington, NM
Sevita Events | Farmington, NM
Overview Join our dedicated team as a Direct Support Professional and make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilit... more
6 Days Ago
Bright Light Homes LLC
Albuquerque, NM
Bright Light Homes LLC | Albuquerque, NM
Job Description. Job Description. Description. Responsibilities/Essential. Job Functions and Duties. Agency Policies and Procedures. Signs and abides by th... more
6 Days Ago
Sevita
Farmington, NM
Sevita | Farmington, NM
Sevita provides community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Here we believe every person has the right to li... more
20 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
