Direct Care Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Care Assistant in the United States is $29,538 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $14.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $34,690
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $27,009 to $32,235
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $24,706
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View as table View as graph 25% $27,009 10% $24,706 90% $34,690 75% $32,235 $29,538 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Direct Care Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $32,235 $2,686 $620 $15
Average $29,538 $2,462 $568 $14
25th Percentile $27,009 $2,251 $519 $13
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Clinical Care Assistant

Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians - Riverlea, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Direct Care Assistant Salaries

A Direct Care Assistant'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 Direct Care Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Care Assistant'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): $29,149
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $29,419
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $30,014
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $30,133
  • Expert (over 8 years): $30,212
Levels Salary
Entry Level Direct Care Assistant$29,149
Intermediate Level Direct Care Assistant$29,419
Senior Level Direct Care Assistant$30,014
Specialist Level Direct Care Assistant$30,133
Expert Level Direct Care Assistant$30,212
$29,149 0 yr
$29,419 < 2 yrs
$30,014 2-4 yrs
$30,133 5-8 yrs
$30,212 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Direct Care Assistant 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 Direct Care Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $32,705.
  • California: $32,581.
  • Massachusetts: $32,147.

Top Paying Cities for Direct Care Assistants

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: $37,257
  • San Francisco: $36,849
  • Oakland: $36,072

What Skills Can Increase a Direct Care Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Time Management (Mentioned in 4.87% Job Postings): Managing and setting priorities, goals, and timetables to boost productivity and efficiency in completing tasks.
  • Laundry (Mentioned in 7.76% Job Postings): Laundry refers to the washing of clothing and other textiles. Laundry processes are often done in a room reserved for that purpose; in an individual home this is referred to as a laundry room, Laundry in Australian English or utility room. An apartment building or student hall of residence may have a shared laundry facility such as a tvättstuga. A stand-alone business is referred to as a self-service laundry (launderette in British English or laundromat in American English). The material that is being washed, or has been laundered, is also generally referred to as laundry. Laundry has been part of history since humans began to wear clothes, so the methods by which different cultures have dealt with this universal human need are of interest to several branches of scholarship. Laundry work has traditionally been highly gendered, with the responsibility in most cultures falling to women (known as laundresses or washerwomen). The Industrial Revolution gradually led to mechanised solutions to laundry work, notably the washing machine and later the tumble dryer. Laundry, like cooking and child care, is done both at home and by commercial establishments outside the home.
  • Container (Mentioned in 6.15% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Time Management 4.87%
Laundry 7.76%
Container 6.15%
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 Direct Care Assistant's salary.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership
$33,674
14%
Collaboration
$32,788
11%
Listening
$32,788
11%
Time Management
$32,197
9%
Accountability
$31,606
7%
Dedication
$31,606
7%
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Direct Care Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Direct Care Assistant 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, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Direct Care Assistant positions in Healthcare typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Direct Care Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Direct Care Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$35,446$17.020%

How Education impacts a Direct Care Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Direct Care Assistants 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 Direct Care Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $34,234 and $35,811).

Direct Care Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Direct Care Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 36.3%
Associates 11.3%
Bachelors 46.3%
Masters 5.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Direct Care Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Direct Care Assistant'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Direct Care Assistant

Salaries for a Direct Care Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $34,634 in 2023 to around $34,381 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Direct Care Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Direct Care Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$34,634
2024
$34,943
2025
$34,381
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $34,634
2024 $34,943
2025 $34,381
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Direct Care Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Direct Care Assistant

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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.

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