Caregiver / Direct Care Salary in the United States

How much does a Caregiver / Direct Care make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Caregiver / Direct Care in the United States is $32,011 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $15.

However, a Caregiver / Direct Care's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $35,437
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $29,123 to $33,805
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $26,494
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $29,123 10% $26,494 90% $35,437 75% $33,805 $32,011 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Caregiver / Direct Care Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $33,805 $2,817 $650 $16
Average $32,011 $2,668 $616 $15
25th Percentile $29,123 $2,427 $560 $14
Check out Caregiver / Direct Care Job Openings in the United States
Direct Support Professional Caregiver

CRSI Champaign Residential Services, Inc. - Columbus, OH

Direct care specialist

Golden Provider Services - Columbus, OH

Direct Care Staff

Sequel Employment Center - Columbus, OH

Direct care worker

QUALITY FOR LIFE LLC - Columbus, OH

Search More Caregiver / Direct Care Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Caregiver / Direct Care Salaries

A Caregiver / Direct Care'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Caregiver / Direct Care Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Caregiver / Direct Care'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $35,330
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $31,880
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $38,327
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $42,776
  • Expert (over 8 years): $42,831
Levels Salary
Behaviora... Level Caregiver / Direct Care$35,330
Caregiver... Level Caregiver / Direct Care$31,880
Home Care... Level Caregiver / Direct Care$38,327
Home Care... Level Caregiver / Direct Care$42,776
Home Care... Level Caregiver / Direct Care$42,831
$35,330 0 yr
$31,880 < 2 yrs
$38,327 2-4 yrs
$42,776 5-8 yrs
$42,831 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Caregiver / Direct Care Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Caregiver / Direct Cares. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $35,443.
  • California: $35,309.
  • Massachusetts: $34,838.

Top Paying Cities for Caregiver / Direct Cares

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:

  • San Jose: $40,376
  • San Francisco: $39,934
  • Oakland: $39,092

What Skills Can Increase a Caregiver / Direct Care's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 4.25% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Housekeeping (Mentioned in 5.85% Job Postings): Housekeeping department is keeping the venue clean and sanitary as part of customer service. Cleaners vacuum rugs and furniture in hallways, rooms and public areas. They collect trash and empty wastebaskets, change the sheets and make the beds.
  • Assisted Living (Mentioned in 3.07% Job Postings): Assisted living exemplifies the shift from "care as service" to "care as business" in the broader health care arena predicted more than three decades ago. A consumer-driven industry, assisted living offers a wide range of options, levels of care, and diversity of services (Lockhart, 2009) and is subject to state rather than federal regulatory oversight. "Assisted living" means depends on both the state and provider in question: variations in state regulatory definitions are significant and provider variables include everything from philosophy, geographic location and auspice, to organizational size and structure.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 4.25%
Housekeeping 5.85%
Assisted Living 3.07%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Caregiver / Direct Care's salary.
  • Budgeting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Medication Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Budgeting
$36,173
13%
Decision Making
$36,173
13%
Medication Administration
$35,853
12%
Communicates Effectively
$35,533
11%
Collaboration
$34,572
8%
Coordination
$34,252
7%
Get Latest Data

Caregiver / Direct Care Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Caregiver / Direct Care 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, Caregiver / Direct Care positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Caregiver / Direct Care as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Caregiver / Direct Care

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$38,414$18.020%

How Education impacts a Caregiver / Direct Care's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Caregiver / Direct Cares enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Caregiver / Direct Care with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $27,577 and $28,761).

Caregiver / Direct Care Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Caregiver / Direct Care
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.2%
High School 68.1%
Associates 11.6%
Bachelors 15.2%
Masters 2.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Caregiver / Direct Care Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Caregiver / Direct Care'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Caregiver / Direct Care

Salaries for a Caregiver / Direct Care can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $27,431 in 2023 to around $26,845 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Caregiver / Direct Care salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Caregiver / Direct Care Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$27,431
2024
$27,173
2025
$26,845
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $27,431
2024 $27,173
2025 $26,845
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Caregiver / Direct Care

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Caregiver / Direct Care

Here are companies hiring for Caregiver / Direct Care and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Caregiver / Direct Care Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Caregiver / Direct Care job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Cap City Supported Living

    Columbus, OH

    Cap City Supported Living | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Job Title:** Direct Support Professional Floater Female working varying shifts. Job Location:** Columbus, Ohio, USA. Comp... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Claremont Retirement Village

    Columbus, OH

    Claremont Retirement Village | Columbus, OH

    Caregiver / Patient Care Attendant. Claremont Retirement Village in Columbus, OH is actively seeking an energetic and empathetic Caregiver / Patient Care A... more

    7 Days Ago

  • North Community Counseling Centers

    Columbus, OH

    North Community Counseling Centers | Columbus, OH

    Job Posting. North Community Counseling Centers, Inc. is searching for qualified and dedicated residential care staff members to provide exceptional in-hou... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Greater Cleveland Youth For Christ

    Columbus, OH

    Greater Cleveland Youth For Christ | Columbus, OH

    Gracehaven Youth Direct Care Specialist Various Shifts. Gracehaven is currently hiring for Youth Direct Care Specialist for multiple shifts 1st, 2nd, 3rd a... more

    9 Days Ago

  • Goodwill Columbus

    Columbus, OH

    Goodwill Columbus | Columbus, OH

    Direct Support Professional (DSP). Goodwill's mission is to transform the lives of individuals with disabilities and other barriers through pathways to ind... more

    8 Days Ago

  • Goodwill Columbus

    Columbus, OH

    Goodwill Columbus | Columbus, OH

    Direct Support Professional (DSP) / Personal Care. Teach, supervise, and direct individuals with developmental disabilities in their daily living activitie... more

    8 Days Ago

For Employees

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.

For Employers

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.

FAQ about Caregiver / Direct Care

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Caregiver / Direct Care?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Caregiver / Direct Care roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst