Youth Residential Caregiver Salary in the United States

How much does a Youth Residential Caregiver make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Youth Residential Caregiver in the United States is $38,277 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

However, a Youth Residential Caregiver's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,376
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,883 to $42,516
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $31,792
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View as table View as graph 25% $34,883 10% $31,792 90% $46,376 75% $42,516 $38,277 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Youth Residential Caregiver Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $42,516 $3,543 $818 $20
Average $38,277 $3,190 $736 $18
25th Percentile $34,883 $2,907 $671 $17
Check out Youth Residential Caregiver Job Openings in the United States
Youth Treatment Specialist

Wisconsin Community Services - WATERTOWN, WI

HVAC Residential Service Technician

K&S Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, And Electrical - ROCHESTER, MN

Direct Support Professional Intermittent Residential

North Platte Opportunity Center - OGALLALA, NE

Residential Counselor Supervisor Evening

CFG Residentials LLC - CAMDEN, NJ

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Key Factors That Influence Youth Residential Caregiver Salaries

A Youth Residential Caregiver'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 Youth Residential Caregiver Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Youth Residential Caregiver'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): $37,359
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $38,090
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,836
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $40,023
  • Expert (over 8 years): $40,148
Levels Salary
Entry Level Youth Residential Caregiver$37,359
Intermediate Level Youth Residential Caregiver$38,090
Senior Level Youth Residential Caregiver$39,836
Specialist Level Youth Residential Caregiver$40,023
Expert Level Youth Residential Caregiver$40,148
$37,359 0 yr
$38,090 < 2 yrs
$39,836 2-4 yrs
$40,023 5-8 yrs
$40,148 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Youth Residential Caregiver 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 Youth Residential Caregivers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $42,381.
  • California: $42,220.
  • Massachusetts: $41,657.

Top Paying Cities for Youth Residential Caregivers

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: $48,279
  • San Francisco: $47,805
  • Oakland: $46,744

What Skills Can Increase a Youth Residential Caregiver'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 Youth Residential Caregiver'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
$45,550
19%
Presentation
$45,550
19%
Microsoft Office
$44,402
16%
Psychiatric
$43,636
14%
Programming
$42,871
12%
Collaboration
$42,871
12%
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How Education impacts a Youth Residential Caregiver's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Youth Residential Caregivers 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 Youth Residential Caregiver with a Associate's Degree is between $30,440 and $33,434).

Youth Residential Caregiver Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Youth Residential Caregiver
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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Youth Residential Caregiver Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Youth Residential Caregiver'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 Youth Residential Caregiver

Salaries for a Youth Residential Caregiver can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $43,768 in 2023 to around $43,276 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Youth Residential Caregiver salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Youth Residential Caregiver Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$43,768
2024
$43,681
2025
$43,276
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $43,768
2024 $43,681
2025 $43,276
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Youth Residential Caregiver

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Youth Residential Caregiver

Here are companies hiring for Youth Residential Caregiver and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

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