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

A Direct Support Assistant's salary grows with experience: a Behavioral Home Care Aide (0-0 years)earns $36,130, a Home Care Aide I (0-1 years)earns $32,604, a Direct Support Assistant (1-3 years)earns $39,174, a Home Care Aide III (3-5 years)earns $43,715, a Home Care Aide Coordinator (5+ years)earns $43,779,

What are the highest paying states for a Direct Support Assistant?

Direct Support Assistant salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Direct Support Assistant roles are District of Columbia $42,579, California $42,418, Massachusetts $41,853. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Direct Support Assistant roles make?

Salaries for Direct Support Assistant level roles vary by specialization: Direct Support Professionals: $169,898; Direct Support Associate: $39,499; Direct Care Support: $39,070; Direct Support Worker: $38,688; Direct Support Staff: $38,387.

Direct Support Assistant Salary in Delaware

How much does a Direct Support Assistant make in Delaware?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Support Assistant in Delaware is $38,945 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $45,676
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,645 to $42,468
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,641

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Direct Support Assistant Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$42,468	$3,539	$817	$20
Average	$38,945	$3,245	$749	$19
25th Percentile	$35,645	$2,970	$685	$17

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Direct Support Assistant Salaries

A Direct Support Assistant'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 Support Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Support Assistant'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): $36,130
Early Career (1-2 years): $32,604
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,174
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $43,715
Expert (over 8 years): $43,779

Levels	Salary
Behaviora... Level Direct Support Assistant	$36,130
Home Care... Level Direct Support Assistant	$32,604
Direct Su... Level Direct Support Assistant	$39,174
Home Care... Level Direct Support Assistant	$43,715
Home Care... Level Direct Support Assistant	$43,779

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Direct Support Assistant 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 Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $42,579.
California: $42,418.
Massachusetts: $41,853.

District of Columbia $42,579 California $42,418 Massachusetts $41,853 Washington $41,699 New Jersey $41,683 Alaska $41,630 Connecticut $41,099 New York $40,884

Hawaii $40,195 Rhode Island $39,872 Maryland $39,653 Minnesota $39,353 Colorado $39,238 Illinois $39,199 Oregon $39,053 Delaware $38,945

New Hampshire $38,878 Virginia $38,726 Pennsylvania $38,284 Nevada $38,061 North Dakota $37,988 Michigan $37,872 Wisconsin $37,830 Vermont $37,745

Texas $37,511 Maine $37,495 Arizona $37,472 Ohio $37,445 Georgia $37,092 Indiana $36,915 Wyoming $36,880 Utah $36,826

Iowa $36,803 Kansas $36,619 Louisiana $36,565 North Carolina $36,546 Missouri $36,538 Florida $36,388 Montana $36,307 Nebraska $36,230

Kentucky $36,188 South Carolina $36,034 Tennessee $35,938 Idaho $35,900 New Mexico $35,619 Oklahoma $35,557 Alabama $35,330 South Dakota $34,950

Arkansas $34,742 West Virginia $34,630 Mississippi $34,296

Top Paying Cities for Direct Support Assistants

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: $40,307
Little Creek: $39,934
Magnolia: $40,099

Lincoln, DE $40,307 Little Creek, DE $39,934 Magnolia, DE $40,099 Milford, DE $40,307 Marydel, DE $39,784 Millsboro, DE $40,307 Millville, DE $40,576 Milton, DE $40,307

Nassau, DE $40,307 Ocean View, DE $40,576 Rehoboth Beach, DE $40,576 Seaford, DE $39,884 Selbyville, DE $40,576 Smyrna, DE $39,738 Viola, DE $40,099 Woodside, DE $39,984

Bear, DE $39,445 Newark, DE $39,461 Claymont, DE $39,491 Delaware City, DE $39,461 Hockessin, DE $39,491 Kirkwood, DE $39,461 Middletown, DE $39,657 Montchanin, DE $39,491

New Castle, DE $39,491 Odessa, DE $39,711 Port Penn, DE $39,353 Rockland, DE $39,491 Saint Georges, DE $39,461 Townsend, DE $39,653 Winterthur, DE $39,491 Lewes, DE $40,307

Wilmington, DE $39,491 Dover, DE $39,914 Dover Afb, DE $40,007 Bethany Beach, DE $40,576 Bethel, DE $39,884 Bridgeville, DE $40,307 Camden Wyoming, DE $39,957 Cheswold, DE $39,822

Clayton, DE $39,722 Dagsboro, DE $40,576 Delmar, DE $39,884 Ellendale, DE $40,307 Felton, DE $40,307 Fenwick Island, DE $40,576 Frankford, DE $40,576 Frederica, DE $40,307

Georgetown, DE $40,307 Greenwood, DE $40,307 Harbeson, DE $40,307 Harrington, DE $40,307 Hartly, DE $39,703 Houston, DE $40,307 Kenton, DE $39,722 Laurel, DE $39,884

Yorklyn, DE $39,491

Direct Support Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Direct Support Assistant'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 April 01, 2026

$35,645

Average $38,945/year

$42,468

$2,970

Average $3,245/month

$3,539

$685

Average $749/week

$817

$17

Average $19/hour

$20

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$42,468	$3,539	$817	$20
Average	$38,945	$3,245	$749	$19
25th Percentile	$35,645	$2,970	$685	$17

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