What are the main factors that influence a Direct Care Staff'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 Staff?

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

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

A Direct Care Staff's salary grows with experience: a Behavioral Home Care Aide (0-0 years)earns $36,682, a Home Care Aide I (0-1 years)earns $33,100, a Direct Care Staff (1-3 years)earns $39,788, a Home Care Aide III (3-5 years)earns $44,405, a Home Care Aide Coordinator (5+ years)earns $44,464,

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

Direct Care Staff salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Direct Care Staff roles are District of Columbia $43,247, California $43,083, Massachusetts $42,509. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

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

Salaries for Direct Care Staff level roles vary by specialization: Direct Care Supervisor: $82,670; Evening Direct Care Staff: $73,091; Direct Care Counselor: $39,838; Direct Care Aide: $38,824; Direct Support Staff: $38,390.

Direct Care Staff Salary in Delaware

How much does a Direct Care Staff make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Care Staff in Delaware is $39,556 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,372
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,212 to $43,124
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,168

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Direct Care Staff Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,124	$3,594	$829	$21
Average	$39,556	$3,296	$761	$19
25th Percentile	$36,212	$3,018	$696	$17

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Key Factors That Influence Direct Care Staff Salaries

A Direct Care Staff'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 Staff Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Care Staff'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): $36,682
Early Career (1-2 years): $33,100
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,788
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,405
Expert (over 8 years): $44,464

Levels	Salary
Behaviora... Level Direct Care Staff	$36,682
Home Care... Level Direct Care Staff	$33,100
Direct Ca... Level Direct Care Staff	$39,788
Home Care... Level Direct Care Staff	$44,405
Home Care... Level Direct Care Staff	$44,464

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $43,247.
California: $43,083.
Massachusetts: $42,509.

District of Columbia $43,247 California $43,083 Massachusetts $42,509 Washington $42,353 New Jersey $42,337 Alaska $42,282 Connecticut $41,743 New York $41,524

Hawaii $40,825 Rhode Island $40,497 Maryland $40,275 Minnesota $39,970 Colorado $39,853 Illinois $39,814 Oregon $39,665 Delaware $39,556

New Hampshire $39,487 Virginia $39,333 Pennsylvania $38,884 Nevada $38,657 North Dakota $38,583 Michigan $38,466 Wisconsin $38,423 Vermont $38,337

Texas $38,099 Maine $38,083 Arizona $38,060 Ohio $38,033 Georgia $37,673 Indiana $37,494 Wyoming $37,458 Utah $37,404

Iowa $37,380 Kansas $37,193 Louisiana $37,138 North Carolina $37,119 Missouri $37,111 Florida $36,958 Montana $36,876 Nebraska $36,798

Kentucky $36,755 South Carolina $36,599 Tennessee $36,501 Idaho $36,462 New Mexico $36,177 Oklahoma $36,115 Alabama $35,884 South Dakota $35,498

Arkansas $35,287 West Virginia $35,173 Mississippi $34,834

Top Paying Cities for Direct Care Stafves

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: $39,378
Little Creek: $39,666
Magnolia: $39,609

Lincoln, DE $39,378 Little Creek, DE $39,666 Magnolia, DE $39,609 Milford, DE $39,478 Marydel, DE $39,543 Millsboro, DE $39,213 Millville, DE $39,273 Milton, DE $39,341

Nassau, DE $39,370 Ocean View, DE $39,266 Rehoboth Beach, DE $39,342 Seaford, DE $39,364 Selbyville, DE $39,201 Smyrna, DE $39,693 Viola, DE $39,511 Woodside, DE $39,617

Bear, DE $39,525 Newark, DE $39,511 Claymont, DE $39,591 Delaware City, DE $39,550 Hockessin, DE $39,507 Kirkwood, DE $39,543 Middletown, DE $39,558 Montchanin, DE $39,516

New Castle, DE $39,522 Odessa, DE $39,577 Port Penn, DE $39,604 Rockland, DE $39,520 Saint Georges, DE $39,545 Townsend, DE $39,606 Winterthur, DE $39,525 Lewes, DE $39,356

Wilmington, DE $39,509 Dover, DE $39,666 Dover Afb, DE $39,457 Bethany Beach, DE $39,225 Bethel, DE $39,266 Bridgeville, DE $39,358 Camden Wyoming, DE $39,554 Cheswold, DE $39,653

Clayton, DE $39,654 Dagsboro, DE $39,198 Delmar, DE $39,135 Ellendale, DE $39,254 Felton, DE $39,475 Fenwick Island, DE $39,206 Frankford, DE $39,138 Frederica, DE $39,514

Georgetown, DE $39,183 Greenwood, DE $39,364 Harbeson, DE $39,225 Harrington, DE $39,425 Hartly, DE $39,547 Houston, DE $39,368 Kenton, DE $39,656 Laurel, DE $39,159

Yorklyn, DE $39,519

Direct Care Staff Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industry for a Direct Care Staff

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare	$47,467	$23.0	20%

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

Understanding how a Direct Care Staff'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

$36,212

Average $39,556/year

$43,124

$3,018

Average $3,296/month

$3,594

$696

Average $761/week

$829

$17

Average $19/hour

$21

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,124	$3,594	$829	$21
Average	$39,556	$3,296	$761	$19
25th Percentile	$36,212	$3,018	$696	$17

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