What are the main factors that influence a Direct Support Professional DSP's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Direct Support Professional DSP's salary?

A Direct Support Professional DSP's salary grows with experience: a Direct Support Professional DSP (0-0 years)earns $35,289, a Nursing Assistant - Non-certified (0-1 years)earns $35,567, a Patient Care Technician (PCT) (1-3 years)earns $39,410,

What are the highest paying states for a Direct Support Professional DSP?

Direct Support Professional DSP salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Direct Support Professional DSP roles are District of Columbia $37,827, California $37,683, Massachusetts $37,181. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Direct Support Professional DSP roles make?

Salaries for Direct Support Professional DSP level roles vary by specialization: Direct Support Professional 2: $64,776; Direct Support Professional Supervisor: $62,328; Direct Support Professional Caregiver: $39,591; Direct Support Professional IDD: $38,755; Advanced Direct Support Professional: $36,933.

Direct Support Professional DSP Salary in Rhode Island

How much does a Direct Support Professional DSP make in Rhode Island?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Professional DSP in Rhode Island is $35,422 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $38,872
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,990 to $37,228
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $28,866

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

Recruit with AI

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Direct Support Professional DSP Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$37,228	$3,102	$716	$18
Average	$35,422	$2,952	$681	$17
25th Percentile	$31,990	$2,666	$615	$15

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Direct Support Professional DSP Job Openings in Rhode Island

Direct Support Professional

Seven Hills Foundation - Woonsocket, RI

ABA Direct Support Professional

Northeast Family Services - Westerly, RI

Direct Support Professional

Seven Hills Foundation - Cranston, RI

Direct Support Professional

Seven Hills Foundation - North Smithfield, RI

Search More Direct Support Professional DSP Jobs in Rhode Island

Key Factors That Influence Direct Support Professional DSP Salaries

A Direct Support Professional DSP'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 Do Direct Support Professional DSP 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 DSPs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $37,827.
California: $37,683.
Massachusetts: $37,181.

District of Columbia $37,827 California $37,683 Massachusetts $37,181 Washington $37,045 New Jersey $37,031 Alaska $36,983 Connecticut $36,512 New York $36,320

Hawaii $35,709 Rhode Island $35,422 Maryland $35,227 Minnesota $34,961 Colorado $34,858 Illinois $34,824 Oregon $34,694 Delaware $34,598

New Hampshire $34,538 Virginia $34,404 Pennsylvania $34,011 Nevada $33,813 North Dakota $33,748 Michigan $33,645 Wisconsin $33,608 Vermont $33,532

Texas $33,324 Maine $33,310 Arizona $33,290 Ohio $33,266 Georgia $32,952 Indiana $32,795 Wyoming $32,764 Utah $32,716

Iowa $32,695 Kansas $32,531 Louisiana $32,484 North Carolina $32,467 Missouri $32,460 Florida $32,326 Montana $32,255 Nebraska $32,186

Kentucky $32,149 South Carolina $32,012 Tennessee $31,927 Idaho $31,893 New Mexico $31,643 Oklahoma $31,588 Alabama $31,387 South Dakota $31,049

Arkansas $30,864 West Virginia $30,765 Mississippi $30,468

Top Paying Cities for Direct Support Professional DSPs

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:

Adamsville: $35,865
Albion: $35,561
Ashaway: $35,797

Adamsville, RI $35,865 Albion, RI $35,561 Ashaway, RI $35,797 Barrington, RI $35,468 Block Island, RI $35,665 Bradford, RI $35,775 Bristol, RI $35,605 Carolina, RI $35,716

Charlestown, RI $35,729 Chepachet, RI $35,658 Clayville, RI $35,558 Coventry, RI $35,560 West Greenwich, RI $35,658 East Greenwich, RI $35,536 Exeter, RI $35,648 Fiskeville, RI $35,467

Forestdale, RI $35,741 Foster, RI $35,639 Glendale, RI $35,743 Greene, RI $35,686 Greenville, RI $35,481 Harmony, RI $35,527 Harrisville, RI $35,728 Hope, RI $35,489

Hope Valley, RI $35,765 Hopkinton, RI $35,812 Jamestown, RI $35,693 Kenyon, RI $35,711 Little Compton, RI $35,859 Manville, RI $35,608 Mapleville, RI $35,665 Newport, RI $35,729

Middletown, RI $35,744 North Kingstown, RI $35,597 North Scituate, RI $35,527 Oakland, RI $35,703 Pascoag, RI $35,751 Pawtucket, RI $35,415 Central Falls, RI $35,431 Cumberland, RI $35,632

Lincoln, RI $35,466 Portsmouth, RI $35,725 Prudence Island, RI $35,651 Rockville, RI $35,807 Saunderstown, RI $35,671 Shannock, RI $35,714 Slatersville, RI $35,741 Slocum, RI $35,670

Tiverton, RI $35,833 Wakefield, RI $35,702 Kingston, RI $35,688 Narragansett, RI $35,711 Peace Dale, RI $35,697 Warren, RI $35,559 Warwick, RI $35,460 Westerly, RI $35,805

West Kingston, RI $35,699 West Warwick, RI $35,504 Wood River Junction, RI $35,750 Woonsocket, RI $35,743 North Smithfield, RI $35,661 Wyoming, RI $35,714 Providence, RI $35,405 Cranston, RI $35,409

North Providence, RI $35,414 East Providence, RI $35,407 Riverside, RI $35,418 Rumford, RI $35,413 Smithfield, RI $35,485 Johnston, RI $35,426

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

Understanding how a Direct Support Professional DSP'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 May 01, 2026

$31,990

Average $35,422/year

$37,228

$2,666

Average $2,952/month

$3,102

$615

Average $681/week

$716

$15

Average $17/hour

$18

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$37,228	$3,102	$716	$18
Average	$35,422	$2,952	$681	$17
25th Percentile	$31,990	$2,666	$615	$15

Salaries of jobs related to Direct Support Professional DSP

Find Your Next Direct Support Professional DSP Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Direct Support Professional DSP job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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.

Cost of Living In Rhode Island

Cost of Living in Rhode Island is

3.7% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about