Direct Support Associate Salary in the United States
How much does a Direct Support Associate make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Associate in the United States is $39,474 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.
However, a Direct Support Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,704
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,995 to $43,782
Key Factors That Influence Direct Support Associate Salaries
A Direct Support Associate'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 Support Associate Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Support Associate'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): $38,535
Early Career (1-2 years): $39,283
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $41,057
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,248
Expert (over 8 years): $41,374
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Direct Support Associate
$38,535
Intermediate Level Direct Support Associate
$39,283
Senior Level Direct Support Associate
$41,057
Specialist Level Direct Support Associate
$41,248
Expert Level Direct Support Associate
$41,374
$38,5350 yr
$39,283< 2 yrs
$41,0572-4 yrs
$41,2485-8 yrs
$41,374> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Direct Support Associate 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 Support Associates.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $43,705.
California: $43,539.
Massachusetts: $42,959.
District of Columbia$43,705
California$43,539
Massachusetts$42,959
Washington$42,801
New Jersey$42,785
Alaska$42,730
Connecticut$42,185
New York$41,964
Hawaii$41,258
Rhode Island$40,926
Maryland$40,701
Minnesota$40,393
Colorado$40,275
Illinois$40,235
Oregon$40,085
Delaware$39,975
New Hampshire$39,905
Virginia$39,750
Pennsylvania$39,296
Nevada$39,067
North Dakota$38,992
Michigan$38,874
Wisconsin$38,830
Vermont$38,743
Texas$38,502
Maine$38,487
Arizona$38,463
Ohio$38,435
Georgia$38,072
Indiana$37,891
Wyoming$37,855
Utah$37,800
Iowa$37,776
Kansas$37,587
Louisiana$37,531
North Carolina$37,512
Missouri$37,504
Florida$37,350
Montana$37,267
Nebraska$37,188
Kentucky$37,145
South Carolina$36,987
Tennessee$36,888
Idaho$36,849
New Mexico$36,560
Oklahoma$36,497
Alabama$36,264
South Dakota$35,874
Arkansas$35,660
West Virginia$35,546
Mississippi$35,202
Top Paying Cities for Direct Support Associates
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: $49,788
San Francisco: $49,243
Oakland: $48,205
San Jose, CA$49,788
San Francisco, CA$49,243
Oakland, CA$48,205
New York, NY$45,449
Paramus, NJ$44,897
Queens Village, NY$44,895
Passaic, NJ$44,857
Bergenfield, NJ$44,854
Stamford, CT$44,767
Huntington, NY$44,751
Newark, NJ$44,459
Bridgeport, CT$44,376
Vallejo, CA$44,297
New Brunswick, NJ$44,281
Petaluma, CA$44,258
Middlesex, NJ$44,183
Somerset, NJ$44,155
Santa Cruz, CA$44,104
Boston, MA$43,863
Monterey, CA$43,724
Seattle, WA$43,634
Santa Rosa, CA$43,626
Los Angeles, CA$43,614
Juneau, AK$43,512
Washington, DC$43,468
Orange, CA$43,328
Santa Ana, CA$43,223
Long Beach, CA$43,184
Anaheim, CA$43,176
Anchorage, AK$43,156
Santa Maria, CA$43,038
Everett, WA$43,030
Danbury, CT$42,891
Bremerton, WA$42,837
Tacoma, WA$42,695
New Suffolk, NY$42,694
Sacramento, CA$42,683
Santa Barbara, CA$42,639
Trenton, NJ$42,596
San Diego, CA$42,596
Brockton, MA$42,552
Fairbanks, AK$42,456
Lompoc, CA$42,355
Lowell, MA$42,323
Ventura, CA$42,316
Nashua, NH$42,308
Stockton, CA$42,304
Modesto, CA$42,016
Poughkeepsie, NY$41,929
Olympia, WA$41,854
Kennewick, WA$41,854
New Haven, CT$41,838
Lawrence, MA$41,696
Hartford, CT$41,656
Riverside, CA$41,648
New Bedford, MA$41,609
Richland, WA$41,609
Bakersfield, CA$41,554
San Bernardino, CA$41,538
New Britain, CT$41,534
Atlantic City, NJ$41,534
New London, CT$41,518
Norwich, CT$41,506
Portsmouth, NH$41,498
Boulder, CO$41,415
Portland, OR$41,360
Worcester, MA$41,356
Minneapolis, MN$41,234
Philadelphia, PA$41,179
Honolulu, HI$41,048
Saint Paul, MN$41,030
Vineland, NJ$41,021
Providence, RI$40,906
Chicago, IL$40,792
Bellingham, WA$40,745
Springfield, MA$40,713
Baltimore, MD$40,701
Chico, CA$40,602
Pittsfield, MA$40,496
Manchester, NH$40,421
Spokane, WA$40,247
Denver, CO$40,243
Albany, NY$40,058
Troy, NY$40,042
Nassau, NY$40,000
Schenectady, NY$39,959
Wilmington, DE$39,927
Burlington, VT$39,872
Salem, OR$39,856
Portland, ME$39,734
Yakima, WA$39,695
Rochester, MN$39,572
Reno, NV$39,552
Fresno, CA$39,552
Milwaukee, WI$39,517
Detroit, MI$39,477
Ann Arbor, MI$39,471
Allentown, PA$39,466
Colorado Springs, CO$39,399
Syracuse, NY$39,379
Carson City, NV$39,379
Houston, TX$39,324
Eugene, OR$39,304
Gary, IN$39,256
Springfield, OR$39,225
Bismarck, ND$39,217
Galveston, TX$39,189
Medford, OR$39,130
Fort Collins, CO$39,114
Concord, NH$39,095
Austin, TX$39,083
Mesa, AZ$39,000
Reading, PA$38,996
Phoenix, AZ$38,992
Dallas, TX$38,980
Saint Cloud, MN$38,942
Madison, WI$38,889
Utica, NY$38,783
Rochester, NY$38,720
Des Moines, IA$38,716
Raleigh, NC$38,712
Atlanta, GA$38,652
Battle Creek, MI$38,641
Salt Lake City, UT$38,629
Lancaster, PA$38,570
Harrisburg, PA$38,514
Kansas City, MO$38,475
Champaign, IL$38,467
Kansas City, KS$38,467
Fort Worth, TX$38,463
Columbus, OH$38,456
Boca Raton, FL$38,447
Pittsburgh, PA$38,431
Richmond, VA$38,416
Indianapolis, IN$38,408
Cleveland, OH$38,404
Las Vegas, NV$38,356
Cincinnati, OH$38,356
Petersburg, VA$38,297
Huntsville, AL$38,238
Lansing, MI$38,212
Lebanon, PA$38,206
Pueblo, CO$38,202
Appleton, WI$38,191
Buffalo, NY$38,175
Dayton, OH$38,163
Racine, WI$38,155
Charlotte, NC$38,151
Saint Louis, MO$38,139
York, PA$38,116
Elkhart, IN$38,116
Gastonia, NC$38,108
Billings, MT$38,099
Beaumont, TX$38,088
Lorain, OH$38,080
Benton Harbor, MI$38,072
Toledo, OH$38,064
Binghamton, NY$38,045
Rock Hill, SC$38,041
Rockford, IL$38,021
Springfield, IL$38,005
Elyria, OH$38,001
Fargo, ND$38,001
Flagstaff, AZ$37,974
Fort Lauderdale, FL$37,950
Duluth, MN$37,926
Miami, FL$37,926
Cheyenne, WY$37,899
Grand Forks, ND$37,899
Bangor, ME$37,812
Cedar Rapids, IA$37,768
Durham, NC$37,752
Louisville, KY$37,749
Grand Rapids, MI$37,741
Hialeah, FL$37,737
Casper, WY$37,681
Scranton, PA$37,634
New Orleans, LA$37,622
Virginia Beach, VA$37,618
Akron, OH$37,599
Peoria, IL$37,547
Sarasota, FL$37,539
Nashville, TN$37,512
Omaha, NE$37,512
Green Bay, WI$37,512
Baton Rouge, LA$37,492
Charleston, SC$37,484
Jamestown, NY$37,464
Davenport, IA$37,464
Tucson, AZ$37,445
Saint Petersburg, FL$37,421
Tampa, FL$37,413
Evansville, IN$37,389
Port Arthur, TX$37,389
Bradenton, FL$37,374
Santa Fe, NM$37,302
Orlando, FL$37,231
Clearwater, FL$37,220
Canton, OH$37,137
La Crosse, WI$37,137
Albuquerque, NM$37,113
Newport News, VA$37,109
High Point, NC$37,097
Ogden, UT$37,081
Corpus Christi, TX$37,050
Norfolk, VA$37,026
Laramie, WY$37,026
Rock Island, IL$37,002
Saginaw, MI$36,995
Jacksonville, FL$36,991
Salisbury, NC$36,983
Boise, ID$36,975
Moline, IL$36,955
Fort Myers, FL$36,943
Memphis, TN$36,935
Tulsa, OK$36,916
Waterloo, IA$36,892
Spartanburg, SC$36,852
Lincoln, NE$36,833
Fort Wayne, IN$36,825
Provo, UT$36,821
Cedar Falls, IA$36,774
San Antonio, TX$36,758
Greensboro, NC$36,742
South Bend, IN$36,738
Savannah, GA$36,695
Muskegon, MI$36,679
Birmingham, AL$36,675
Winston Salem, NC$36,655
Lake Charles, LA$36,560
Anderson, IN$36,552
Lexington, KY$36,541
Augusta, GA$36,529
Greenville, SC$36,529
Lima, OH$36,497
Wichita, KS$36,493
Tuscaloosa, AL$36,493
Columbia, SC$36,458
Springfield, OH$36,450
Asheville, NC$36,387
Bloomington, IN$36,359
Knoxville, TN$36,217
Shreveport, LA$36,213
Wilmington, NC$36,162
Roanoke, VA$36,162
Topeka, KS$36,091
Frankfort, KY$36,086
Oklahoma City, OK$36,059
Chillicothe, OH$36,043
Longview, TX$36,039
Melbourne, FL$36,035
Sioux Falls, SD$35,972
Mobile, AL$35,968
Terre Haute, IN$35,952
Altoona, PA$35,929
Amarillo, TX$35,901
Killeen, TX$35,889
Fayetteville, AR$35,858
Chattanooga, TN$35,846
Sioux City, IA$35,810
Idaho Falls, ID$35,802
Lynchburg, VA$35,771
Gainesville, FL$35,720
Portsmouth, OH$35,700
Little Rock, AR$35,692
Lafayette, LA$35,676
Youngstown, OH$35,676
Daytona Beach, FL$35,652
Clarksville, TN$35,649
Pensacola, FL$35,645
Temple, TX$35,642
Hopkinsville, KY$35,526
Erie, PA$35,518
Florence, SC$35,502
Charleston, WV$35,439
Great Falls, MT$35,420
Macon, GA$35,364
Tallahassee, FL$35,360
Fayetteville, NC$35,352
Waco, TX$35,345
Helena, MT$35,317
Pine Bluff, AR$35,302
Vincennes, IN$35,254
Lubbock, TX$35,238
Alamogordo, NM$35,214
Twin Falls, ID$35,179
Rapid City, SD$35,167
Jackson, MS$35,096
Huntington, WV$35,093
Greenville, MS$35,092
Parkersburg, WV$35,052
Montgomery, AL$35,045
Wichita Falls, TX$35,005
Springfield, MO$35,005
Biloxi, MS$34,985
Monroe, LA$34,946
Johnstown, PA$34,918
Sumter, SC$34,902
Columbus, GA$34,899
Pascagoula, MS$34,824
Abilene, TX$34,824
Kingsport, TN$34,721
Albany, GA$34,721
Gulfport, MS$34,709
Alexandria, LA$34,579
Fort Smith, AR$34,480
El Paso, TX$34,374
Las Cruces, NM$34,196
Harlingen, TX$34,096
Pocatello, ID$34,089
Florence, AL$34,038
Brownsville, TX$34,030
Mcallen, TX$33,947
Dothan, AL$33,892
Columbus, MS$33,657
Altus, OK$33,474
Lawton, OK$33,399
Pierre, SD$33,256
What Skills Can Increase a Direct Support Associate's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Planning (Mentioned in 5.5% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Social Work (Mentioned in 3.29% Job Postings): Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. Social functioning is the way in which people perform their social roles, and the structural institutions that are provided[by whom?] to sustain them. Social work applies social sciences, such as sociology, psychology, political science, public health, community development, law, and economics, to engage with client systems, conduct assessments, and develop interventions to solve social and personal problems; and to bring about social change. Social work practice is often divided[by whom?] into micro-work, which involves working directly with individuals or small groups; and macro-work, which involves working with communities, and - within social policy - fostering change on a larger scale.
Laundry (Mentioned in 2.66% 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.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Planning
5.5%
Social Work
3.29%
Laundry
2.66%
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 Support Associate's salary.
Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Commitment
$46,973
19%
Presentation
$46,973
19%
Microsoft Office
$45,789
16%
Psychiatric
$45,000
14%
Programming
$44,210
12%
Collaboration
$44,210
12%
Get Latest Data
Direct Support Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Direct Support Associate 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 Associate positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Direct Support Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Direct Support Associate
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$47,368
$23.0
20%
How Education impacts a Direct Support Associate's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Direct Support Associates enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Support Associate with a Associate's Degree is between
$30,440
and $33,434).
Direct Support Associate Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Direct Support Associate
No Diploma0.8%
High School14.4%
Associates19.2%
Bachelors51.2%
Masters14.4%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.8%
High School
14.4%
Associates
19.2%
Bachelors
51.2%
Masters
14.4%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Direct Support Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Direct Support Associate'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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$35,995
Average$39,474/year
$43,782
$3,000
Average$3,289/month
$3,648
$692
Average$759/week
$842
$17
Average$19/hour
$21
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$43,782
$3,648
$842
$21
Average
$39,474
$3,289
$759
$19
25th Percentile
$35,995
$3,000
$692
$17
Salaries of jobs related to Direct Support Associate
Salaries for a Direct Support Associate can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $45,196 in 2023
to around $44,687 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Direct Support Associate salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Direct Support Associate Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$45,196
2024
$45,106
2025
$44,687
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$45,196
2024
$45,106
2025
$44,687
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Direct Support Associate
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 Direct Support Associate
Here are companies hiring for Direct Support Associate and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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