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Direct Support Personnel Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Personnel in the United States is $37,140 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $42,159
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,579 to $39,767
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,248
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Direct Support Personnel Salaries

A Direct Support Personnel'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Direct Support Personnel Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Support Personnel'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): $36,946
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $33,338
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,086
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,742
  • Expert (over 8 years): $44,797
Levels Salary
Direct Su... Level Direct Support Personnel$36,946
Home Care... Level Direct Support Personnel$33,338
Home Care... Level Direct Support Personnel$40,086
Home Care... Level Direct Support Personnel$44,742
Home Care... Level Direct Support Personnel$44,797
View as Graph

How Do Direct Support Personnel 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 Personnels. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $41,121.
  • California: $40,965.
  • Massachusetts: $40,419.

Top Paying Cities for Direct Support Personnels

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: $46,844
  • San Francisco: $46,331
  • Oakland: $45,355

What Skills Can Increase a Direct Support Personnel's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 5.83% 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.
  • Medication Administration (Mentioned in 5.59% Job Postings): Medication administration is the direct application of a prescribed medication whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means to the body of the individual by an individual legally authorized to do so.
  • Service Quality (Mentioned in 3.86% Job Postings): Service quality is a measure of how an organization delivers its services compared to the expectations of its customers.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 5.83%
Medication Administration 5.59%
Service Quality 3.86%
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 Personnel's salary.

  • Social Work: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Social Work $41,596
12%
Leadership $40,482
9%
Analysis $40,482
9%
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Direct Support Personnel Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Direct Support Personnel 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 Personnel positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Direct Support Personnel as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Direct Support Personnel

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$44,568$21.020%

Direct Support Personnel Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Direct Support Personnel'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
$34,579
Average $37,140/year
$39,767
$2,882
Average $3,095/month
$3,314
$665
Average $714/week
$765
$17
Average $18/hour
$19
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $39,767 $3,314 $765 $19
Average $37,140 $3,095 $714 $18
25th Percentile $34,579 $2,882 $665 $17

Most common benefits for Direct Support Personnel

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

Common company salaries for Direct Support Personnel

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

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FAQ about Direct Support Personnel

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

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Direct Support Personnel 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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