Direct Support Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Direct Support Associate make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Associate in the United States is $39,526 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): $47,889
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,021 to $43,904
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,830
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View as table View as graph 25% $36,021 10% $32,830 90% $47,889 75% $43,904 $39,526 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Direct Support Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $43,904 $3,659 $844 $21
Average $39,526 $3,294 $760 $19
25th Percentile $36,021 $3,002 $693 $17
Check out Direct Support Associate Job Openings in the United States
Direct Marketing Associate

Marvin - BOSTON, MA

Direct Support Professional

Pinnacle Services, Inc. - MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Direct Support Professional

Pinnacle Services, Inc. - MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Direct Support Professional

Pinnacle Services, Inc. - MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Search More Direct Support Associate Jobs in the United States

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): $38,578
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,333
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $41,135
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $41,329
  • Expert (over 8 years): $41,457
Levels Salary
Entry Level Direct Support Associate$38,578
Intermediate Level Direct Support Associate$39,333
Senior Level Direct Support Associate$41,135
Specialist Level Direct Support Associate$41,329
Expert Level Direct Support Associate$41,457
$38,578 0 yr
$39,333 < 2 yrs
$41,135 2-4 yrs
$41,329 5-8 yrs
$41,457 > 8 yrs
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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: $43,763.
  • California: $43,597.
  • Massachusetts: $43,016.

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: $49,854
  • San Francisco: $49,364
  • Oakland: $48,269

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
$47,036
19%
Presentation
$47,036
19%
Microsoft Office
$45,850
16%
Psychiatric
$45,060
14%
Programming
$44,269
12%
Collaboration
$44,269
12%
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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
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%
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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.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for 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
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Most common benefits for Direct Support Associate

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

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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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