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Direct Support Care Professional Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Care Professional in the United States is $32,710 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $16.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $36,209
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $29,759 to $34,542
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $27,072
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Direct Support Care Professional Salaries

A Direct Support Care 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Direct Support Care Professional Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Support Care 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $36,102
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $32,576
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,170
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,719
  • Expert (over 8 years): $43,773
Levels Salary
Behaviora... Level Direct Support Care Professional$36,102
Direct Su... Level Direct Support Care Professional$32,576
Home Care... Level Direct Support Care Professional$39,170
Home Care... Level Direct Support Care Professional$43,719
Home Care... Level Direct Support Care Professional$43,773
View as Graph

How Do Direct Support Care Professional 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 Care Professionals. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $36,217.
  • California: $36,080.
  • Massachusetts: $35,599.

Top Paying Cities for Direct Support Care Professionals

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: $41,258
  • San Francisco: $40,806
  • Oakland: $39,946

What Skills Can Increase a Direct Support Care Professional'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 4.25%
Housekeeping 5.85%
Assisted Living 3.07%
See More Skills

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 Care Professional'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 $36,963
13%
Decision Making $36,963
13%
Medication Administration $36,636
12%
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Direct Support Care Professional Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industry for a Direct Support Care Professional

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$39,252$19.020%

How Education impacts a Direct Support Care Professional's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Direct Support Care Professionals 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 Support Care Professional with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $27,577 and $28,761).

Direct Support Care Professional Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Direct Support Care Professional
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

Direct Support Care Professional Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Direct Support Care 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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$29,759
Average $32,710/year
$34,542
$2,480
Average $2,726/month
$2,878
$572
Average $629/week
$664
$14
Average $16/hour
$17
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $34,542 $2,878 $664 $17
Average $32,710 $2,726 $629 $16
25th Percentile $29,759 $2,480 $572 $14

Most common benefits for Direct Support Care Professional

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

Common company salaries for Direct Support Care Professional

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

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FAQ about Direct Support Care Professional

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Direct Support Care Professional?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Direct Support Care Professional 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.

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