Direct Support Professional 2 Salary in the United States
How much does a Direct Support Professional 2 make in the United States?
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Professional 2 in the United States is $64,775 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, a Direct Support Professional 2's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,191
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $58,302 to $72,844
Key Factors That Influence Direct Support Professional 2 Salaries
A Direct Support Professional 2'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 Professional 2 Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Support Professional 2'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): $62,061
Early Career (1-2 years): $62,254
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $64,775
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,098
Expert (over 8 years): $68,335
Levels
Salary
Entry Level Direct Support Professional 2
$62,061
Intermediate Level Direct Support Professional 2
$62,254
Senior Level Direct Support Professional 2
$64,775
Specialist Level Direct Support Professional 2
$68,098
Expert Level Direct Support Professional 2
$68,335
$62,0610 yr
$62,254< 2 yrs
$64,7752-4 yrs
$68,0985-8 yrs
$68,335> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Direct Support Professional 2 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 Professional 2s.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $71,719.
California: $71,447.
Massachusetts: $70,494.
District of Columbia$71,719
California$71,447
Massachusetts$70,494
Washington$70,235
New Jersey$70,209
Alaska$70,119
Connecticut$69,225
New York$68,862
Hawaii$67,703
Rhode Island$67,159
Maryland$66,789
Minnesota$66,284
Colorado$66,090
Illinois$66,025
Oregon$65,779
Delaware$65,597
New Hampshire$65,483
Virginia$65,228
Pennsylvania$64,483
Nevada$64,108
North Dakota$63,985
Michigan$63,790
Wisconsin$63,719
Vermont$63,576
Texas$63,181
Maine$63,155
Arizona$63,117
Ohio$63,071
Georgia$62,475
Indiana$62,177
Wyoming$62,119
Utah$62,028
Iowa$61,989
Kansas$61,679
Louisiana$61,588
North Carolina$61,555
Missouri$61,543
Florida$61,290
Montana$61,154
Nebraska$61,024
Kentucky$60,953
South Carolina$60,694
Tennessee$60,532
Idaho$60,467
New Mexico$59,994
Oklahoma$59,891
Alabama$59,509
South Dakota$58,867
Arkansas$58,518
West Virginia$58,330
Mississippi$57,766
Top Paying Cities for Direct Support Professional 2s
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: $81,700
San Francisco: $80,806
Oakland: $79,103
San Jose, CA$81,700
San Francisco, CA$80,806
Oakland, CA$79,103
New York, NY$74,581
Paramus, NJ$73,674
Queens Village, NY$73,671
Passaic, NJ$73,609
Bergenfield, NJ$73,604
Stamford, CT$73,461
Huntington, NY$73,435
Newark, NJ$72,956
Bridgeport, CT$72,819
Vallejo, CA$72,690
New Brunswick, NJ$72,664
Petaluma, CA$72,626
Middlesex, NJ$72,502
Somerset, NJ$72,457
Santa Cruz, CA$72,373
Boston, MA$71,978
Monterey, CA$71,750
Seattle, WA$71,602
Santa Rosa, CA$71,589
Los Angeles, CA$71,570
Juneau, AK$71,401
Washington, DC$71,330
Orange, CA$71,099
Santa Ana, CA$70,928
Long Beach, CA$70,864
Anaheim, CA$70,851
Anchorage, AK$70,818
Santa Maria, CA$70,624
Everett, WA$70,611
Danbury, CT$70,383
Bremerton, WA$70,294
Tacoma, WA$70,060
New Suffolk, NY$70,059
Sacramento, CA$70,041
Santa Barbara, CA$69,970
Trenton, NJ$69,898
San Diego, CA$69,898
Brockton, MA$69,827
Fairbanks, AK$69,669
Lompoc, CA$69,503
Lowell, MA$69,451
Ventura, CA$69,439
Nashua, NH$69,426
Stockton, CA$69,419
Modesto, CA$68,946
Poughkeepsie, NY$68,804
Olympia, WA$68,681
Kennewick, WA$68,681
New Haven, CT$68,655
Lawrence, MA$68,422
Hartford, CT$68,357
Riverside, CA$68,344
New Bedford, MA$68,279
Richland, WA$68,279
Bakersfield, CA$68,188
San Bernardino, CA$68,163
New Britain, CT$68,156
Atlantic City, NJ$68,156
New London, CT$68,130
Norwich, CT$68,111
Portsmouth, NH$68,098
Boulder, CO$67,960
Portland, OR$67,871
Worcester, MA$67,865
Minneapolis, MN$67,664
Philadelphia, PA$67,573
Honolulu, HI$67,359
Saint Paul, MN$67,328
Vineland, NJ$67,314
Providence, RI$67,126
Chicago, IL$66,938
Bellingham, WA$66,861
Springfield, MA$66,809
Baltimore, MD$66,789
Chico, CA$66,627
Pittsfield, MA$66,452
Manchester, NH$66,329
Spokane, WA$66,044
Denver, CO$66,038
Albany, NY$65,733
Troy, NY$65,708
Nassau, NY$65,638
Schenectady, NY$65,572
Wilmington, DE$65,520
Burlington, VT$65,429
Salem, OR$65,403
Portland, ME$65,202
Yakima, WA$65,138
Rochester, MN$64,937
Reno, NV$64,904
Fresno, CA$64,904
Milwaukee, WI$64,846
Detroit, MI$64,781
Ann Arbor, MI$64,770
Allentown, PA$64,762
Colorado Springs, CO$64,652
Syracuse, NY$64,619
Carson City, NV$64,619
Houston, TX$64,529
Eugene, OR$64,496
Gary, IN$64,419
Springfield, OR$64,367
Bismarck, ND$64,354
Galveston, TX$64,308
Medford, OR$64,211
Fort Collins, CO$64,185
Concord, NH$64,153
Austin, TX$64,134
Mesa, AZ$63,998
Reading, PA$63,991
Phoenix, AZ$63,985
Dallas, TX$63,965
Saint Cloud, MN$63,903
Madison, WI$63,816
Utica, NY$63,641
Rochester, NY$63,538
Des Moines, IA$63,531
Raleigh, NC$63,525
Atlanta, GA$63,427
Battle Creek, MI$63,408
Salt Lake City, UT$63,389
Lancaster, PA$63,291
Harrisburg, PA$63,201
Kansas City, MO$63,136
Champaign, IL$63,123
Kansas City, KS$63,123
Fort Worth, TX$63,117
Columbus, OH$63,106
Boca Raton, FL$63,091
Pittsburgh, PA$63,065
Richmond, VA$63,039
Indianapolis, IN$63,026
Cleveland, OH$63,019
Las Vegas, NV$62,942
Cincinnati, OH$62,942
Petersburg, VA$62,845
Huntsville, AL$62,747
Lansing, MI$62,704
Lebanon, PA$62,696
Pueblo, CO$62,689
Appleton, WI$62,670
Buffalo, NY$62,644
Dayton, OH$62,624
Racine, WI$62,611
Charlotte, NC$62,605
Saint Louis, MO$62,585
York, PA$62,547
Elkhart, IN$62,547
Gastonia, NC$62,534
Billings, MT$62,519
Beaumont, TX$62,501
Lorain, OH$62,488
Benton Harbor, MI$62,475
Toledo, OH$62,462
Binghamton, NY$62,430
Rock Hill, SC$62,423
Rockford, IL$62,391
Springfield, IL$62,365
Elyria, OH$62,359
Fargo, ND$62,359
Flagstaff, AZ$62,313
Fort Lauderdale, FL$62,274
Duluth, MN$62,236
Miami, FL$62,236
Cheyenne, WY$62,190
Grand Forks, ND$62,190
Bangor, ME$62,048
Cedar Rapids, IA$61,977
Durham, NC$61,949
Louisville, KY$61,944
Grand Rapids, MI$61,931
Hialeah, FL$61,925
Casper, WY$61,834
Scranton, PA$61,756
New Orleans, LA$61,737
Virginia Beach, VA$61,730
Akron, OH$61,698
Peoria, IL$61,614
Sarasota, FL$61,601
Nashville, TN$61,555
Omaha, NE$61,555
Green Bay, WI$61,555
Baton Rouge, LA$61,523
Charleston, SC$61,510
Jamestown, NY$61,478
Davenport, IA$61,478
Tucson, AZ$61,445
Saint Petersburg, FL$61,407
Tampa, FL$61,394
Evansville, IN$61,355
Port Arthur, TX$61,355
Bradenton, FL$61,329
Santa Fe, NM$61,212
Orlando, FL$61,096
Clearwater, FL$61,076
Canton, OH$60,940
La Crosse, WI$60,940
Albuquerque, NM$60,901
Newport News, VA$60,895
High Point, NC$60,875
Ogden, UT$60,849
Corpus Christi, TX$60,798
Norfolk, VA$60,759
Laramie, WY$60,759
Rock Island, IL$60,720
Saginaw, MI$60,707
Jacksonville, FL$60,700
Salisbury, NC$60,688
Boise, ID$60,675
Moline, IL$60,642
Fort Myers, FL$60,623
Memphis, TN$60,610
Tulsa, OK$60,577
Waterloo, IA$60,539
Spartanburg, SC$60,474
Lincoln, NE$60,441
Fort Wayne, IN$60,428
Provo, UT$60,422
Cedar Falls, IA$60,344
San Antonio, TX$60,318
Greensboro, NC$60,292
South Bend, IN$60,286
Savannah, GA$60,215
Muskegon, MI$60,189
Birmingham, AL$60,182
Winston Salem, NC$60,151
Lake Charles, LA$59,994
Anderson, IN$59,981
Lexington, KY$59,962
Augusta, GA$59,943
Greenville, SC$59,943
Lima, OH$59,891
Wichita, KS$59,884
Tuscaloosa, AL$59,884
Columbia, SC$59,826
Springfield, OH$59,813
Asheville, NC$59,709
Bloomington, IN$59,664
Knoxville, TN$59,431
Shreveport, LA$59,424
Wilmington, NC$59,340
Roanoke, VA$59,340
Topeka, KS$59,224
Frankfort, KY$59,216
Oklahoma City, OK$59,172
Chillicothe, OH$59,146
Longview, TX$59,139
Melbourne, FL$59,133
Sioux Falls, SD$59,029
Mobile, AL$59,023
Terre Haute, IN$58,997
Altoona, PA$58,958
Amarillo, TX$58,913
Killeen, TX$58,893
Fayetteville, AR$58,841
Chattanooga, TN$58,822
Sioux City, IA$58,764
Idaho Falls, ID$58,751
Lynchburg, VA$58,699
Gainesville, FL$58,615
Portsmouth, OH$58,582
Little Rock, AR$58,569
Lafayette, LA$58,543
Youngstown, OH$58,543
Daytona Beach, FL$58,505
Clarksville, TN$58,498
Pensacola, FL$58,492
Temple, TX$58,487
Hopkinsville, KY$58,297
Erie, PA$58,284
Florence, SC$58,258
Charleston, WV$58,155
Great Falls, MT$58,122
Macon, GA$58,032
Tallahassee, FL$58,025
Fayetteville, NC$58,012
Waco, TX$57,999
Helena, MT$57,954
Pine Bluff, AR$57,929
Vincennes, IN$57,850
Lubbock, TX$57,824
Alamogordo, NM$57,786
Twin Falls, ID$57,727
Rapid City, SD$57,708
Jackson, MS$57,591
Huntington, WV$57,587
Greenville, MS$57,585
Parkersburg, WV$57,519
Montgomery, AL$57,507
Wichita Falls, TX$57,442
Springfield, MO$57,442
Biloxi, MS$57,410
Monroe, LA$57,345
Johnstown, PA$57,300
Sumter, SC$57,274
Columbus, GA$57,267
Pascagoula, MS$57,144
Abilene, TX$57,144
Kingsport, TN$56,976
Albany, GA$56,976
Gulfport, MS$56,956
Alexandria, LA$56,743
Fort Smith, AR$56,581
El Paso, TX$56,406
Las Cruces, NM$56,114
Harlingen, TX$55,950
Pocatello, ID$55,940
Florence, AL$55,855
Brownsville, TX$55,842
Mcallen, TX$55,706
Dothan, AL$55,616
Columbus, MS$55,231
Altus, OK$54,929
Lawton, OK$54,806
Pierre, SD$54,573
What Skills Can Increase a Direct Support Professional 2's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Planning (Mentioned in 7.82% 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.
Discharge Planning (Mentioned in 3.73% Job Postings): Developing a personalized plan to ensure the smooth transition of a patient from a health organization to the patient's home or residential care.
Patient Care (Mentioned in 2.13% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Planning
7.82%
Discharge Planning
3.73%
Patient Care
2.13%
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 Professional 2's salary.
Care Management: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Community Health: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Care Management
$69,309
7%
Patient Care
$68,661
6%
Community Health
$67,366
4%
Leadership
$67,366
4%
Organizing
$67,366
4%
Collaboration
$66,718
3%
Get Latest Data
Direct Support Professional 2 Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Direct Support Professional 2 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, Insurance,
offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely,
Direct Support Professional positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Direct Support Professional 2 as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Direct Support Professional 2
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Insurance
$77,730
$37.0
20%
How Education impacts a Direct Support Professional 2's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Direct Support Professional 2s enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Professional 2 with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$63,714
and $67,641).
Direct Support Professional 2 Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Direct Support Professional 2
No Diploma0.2%
High School2.3%
Associates3.7%
Bachelors82.5%
Masters10.9%
Doctorate0.5%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.2%
High School
2.3%
Associates
3.7%
Bachelors
82.5%
Masters
10.9%
Doctorate
0.5%
view as graph
Direct Support Professional 2 Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Direct Support Professional 2'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 August 01, 2026
$58,302
Average$64,775/year
$72,844
$4,858
Average$5,398/month
$6,070
$1,121
Average$1,246/week
$1,401
$28
Average$31/hour
$35
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$72,844
$6,070
$1,401
$35
Average
$64,775
$5,398
$1,246
$31
25th Percentile
$58,302
$4,858
$1,121
$28
Salaries of jobs related to Direct Support Professional 2
Salaries for a Direct Support Professional 2 can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $75,734 in 2023
to around $72,065 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Direct Support Professional 2 salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Direct Support Professional 2 Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$75,734
2024
$73,525
2025
$72,065
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$75,734
2024
$73,525
2025
$72,065
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Direct Support Professional 2
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 Professional 2
Here are companies hiring for Direct Support Professional 2 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
Find Your Next Direct Support Professional 2 Job
Ready to take the next step in your career?
Browse thousands of current Direct Support Professional 2 job openings on our job board.
Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Job Description. Job Description. Benefits. 401(k) matching. Paid time off. Training & development. 401(k). Job Title: Direct Support Professional (DSP). L...
more
RIDE LLC.is currently seeking applicants for Direct Support Professional (DSP) positions, who have friendly personalities and the patience needed to accomm...
more
Direct Support Professional. The Direct Support Professional is responsible to provide direct services and supports to the individuals served as outlined i...
more
Job Description. Job Description. Direct Support Professional Job Responsibilities. Provides direct care to those with intellectual and developmental disab...
more
Job Description. Job Description. We are hiring for Weekend shift 8AM-5PM and another role potential for PRN. The Residential Coach (RC) provides victim-ce...
more
PRICY STAFFING & HOMECARE AGENCY LL | Columbus, OH
Job Description. Job Description. WE ARE URGENTLY SEEKING FOR AN EXPERIENCE DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS FOR AN URGENT POSITION IN. HILLIAD, CANAL WINCHEST...
more
7 Days Ago
For Employees
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
For Employers
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
FAQ about Direct Support Professional 2
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Direct Support Professional 2?
The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for Direct Support Professional 2 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.
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI Onboarding
