What are the main factors that influence a Direct Care Counselor's salary?

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

What industry pays the highest salary for Direct Care Counselor?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Direct Care Counselor roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

How does experience change A Direct Care Counselor's salary?

A Direct Care Counselor's salary grows with experience: a Behavioral Home Care Aide (0-0 years)earns $37,413, a Home Care Aide I (0-1 years)earns $33,760, a Direct Care Counselor (1-3 years)earns $40,581, a Home Care Aide III (3-5 years)earns $45,291, a Home Care Aide Coordinator (5+ years)earns $45,351,

What are the highest paying states for a Direct Care Counselor?

Direct Care Counselor salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Direct Care Counselor roles are District of Columbia $44,109, California $43,942, Massachusetts $43,356. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Direct Care Counselor roles make?

Salaries for Direct Care Counselor level roles vary by specialization: Direct Care Supervisor: $82,670; Direct Care Companion: $40,555; Direct Care Support: $39,072; Direct Care Staff: $39,060; Direct Care Aide: $38,824.

Direct Care Counselor Salary in Delaware

How much does a Direct Care Counselor make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Care Counselor in Delaware is $40,344 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $47,296
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,934 to $43,983
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,829

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Direct Care Counselor Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,983	$3,665	$846	$21
Average	$40,344	$3,362	$776	$19
25th Percentile	$36,934	$3,078	$710	$18

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Direct Care Counselor Salaries

A Direct Care Counselor'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 Care Counselor Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Care Counselor'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): $37,413
Early Career (1-2 years): $33,760
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $40,581
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $45,291
Expert (over 8 years): $45,351

Levels	Salary
Behaviora... Level Direct Care Counselor	$37,413
Home Care... Level Direct Care Counselor	$33,760
Direct Ca... Level Direct Care Counselor	$40,581
Home Care... Level Direct Care Counselor	$45,291
Home Care... Level Direct Care Counselor	$45,351

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Direct Care Counselor 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 Care Counselors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $44,109.
California: $43,942.
Massachusetts: $43,356.

District of Columbia $44,109 California $43,942 Massachusetts $43,356 Washington $43,197 New Jersey $43,181 Alaska $43,125 Connecticut $42,575 New York $42,352

Hawaii $41,639 Rhode Island $41,304 Maryland $41,077 Minnesota $40,767 Colorado $40,647 Illinois $40,607 Oregon $40,456 Delaware $40,344

New Hampshire $40,274 Virginia $40,117 Pennsylvania $39,659 Nevada $39,428 North Dakota $39,352 Michigan $39,233 Wisconsin $39,189 Vermont $39,101

Texas $38,858 Maine $38,842 Arizona $38,819 Ohio $38,791 Georgia $38,424 Indiana $38,241 Wyoming $38,205 Utah $38,149

Iowa $38,125 Kansas $37,934 Louisiana $37,878 North Carolina $37,858 Missouri $37,850 Florida $37,695 Montana $37,611 Nebraska $37,532

Kentucky $37,488 South Carolina $37,329 Tennessee $37,229 Idaho $37,189 New Mexico $36,898 Oklahoma $36,835 Alabama $36,600 South Dakota $36,205

Arkansas $35,990 West Virginia $35,874 Mississippi $35,528

Top Paying Cities for Direct Care Counselors

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:

Lincoln: $40,163
Little Creek: $40,457
Magnolia: $40,399

Lincoln, DE $40,163 Little Creek, DE $40,457 Magnolia, DE $40,399 Milford, DE $40,265 Marydel, DE $40,331 Millsboro, DE $39,994 Millville, DE $40,056 Milton, DE $40,125

Nassau, DE $40,154 Ocean View, DE $40,049 Rehoboth Beach, DE $40,126 Seaford, DE $40,149 Selbyville, DE $39,983 Smyrna, DE $40,485 Viola, DE $40,298 Woodside, DE $40,406

Bear, DE $40,313 Newark, DE $40,298 Claymont, DE $40,381 Delaware City, DE $40,338 Hockessin, DE $40,295 Kirkwood, DE $40,331 Middletown, DE $40,346 Montchanin, DE $40,304

New Castle, DE $40,310 Odessa, DE $40,366 Port Penn, DE $40,393 Rockland, DE $40,308 Saint Georges, DE $40,334 Townsend, DE $40,396 Winterthur, DE $40,312 Lewes, DE $40,141

Wilmington, DE $40,297 Dover, DE $40,457 Dover Afb, DE $40,244 Bethany Beach, DE $40,007 Bethel, DE $40,048 Bridgeville, DE $40,143 Camden Wyoming, DE $40,343 Cheswold, DE $40,444

Clayton, DE $40,445 Dagsboro, DE $39,979 Delmar, DE $39,915 Ellendale, DE $40,036 Felton, DE $40,261 Fenwick Island, DE $39,988 Frankford, DE $39,918 Frederica, DE $40,301

Georgetown, DE $39,964 Greenwood, DE $40,149 Harbeson, DE $40,007 Harrington, DE $40,210 Hartly, DE $40,336 Houston, DE $40,153 Kenton, DE $40,447 Laurel, DE $39,940

Yorklyn, DE $40,307

Direct Care Counselor Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industry for a Direct Care Counselor

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$48,413	$23.0	20%

Direct Care Counselor Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Direct Care Counselor'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 July 01, 2026

$36,934

Average $40,344/year

$43,983

$3,078

Average $3,362/month

$3,665

$710

Average $776/week

$846

$18

Average $19/hour

$21

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,983	$3,665	$846	$21
Average	$40,344	$3,362	$776	$19
25th Percentile	$36,934	$3,078	$710	$18

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