Supported Employment Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Supported Employment Specialist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Supported Employment Specialist in the United States is $68,483 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Supported Employment Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,930
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,039 to $73,952
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,619

Key Factors That Influence Supported Employment Specialist Salaries

A Supported Employment Specialist'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 Supported Employment Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Supported Employment Specialist'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): $59,212
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $69,278
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,844
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $114,621
  • Expert (over 8 years): $140,300
Levels Salary
Leadershi... Level Supported Employment Specialist$59,212
Supported... Level Supported Employment Specialist$69,278
Leadershi... Level Supported Employment Specialist$91,844
Leadershi... Level Supported Employment Specialist$114,621
Leadershi... Level Supported Employment Specialist$140,300

Top Paying Cities for Supported Employment Specialists

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: $86,378
  • San Francisco: $85,432
  • Oakland: $83,632

What Skills Can Increase a Supported Employment Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coaching (Mentioned in 12.66% Job Postings): Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
  • First Aid (Mentioned in 2.65% Job Postings): First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred.
  • Exploration (Mentioned in 1.57% Job Postings): Activities in which people explore, examine and investigate a new and/or unexpected world of work. Work Experience is activities that offer people close and more sustained opportunities for observation and participation in one or more workplaces.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coaching 12.66%
First Aid 2.65%
Exploration 1.57%

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 Supported Employment Specialist's salary.

  • CornerStone: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CornerStone $75,332
10%
Innovation $75,332
10%
Analysis $72,592
6%

Supported Employment Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Supported Employment Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 115% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 70% above the average. In contrast, Supported Employment Specialist positions in Telecom or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Supported Employment Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Supported Employment Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$116,421$56.070%
Biotechnology$102,725$49.050%
Software & Networking$95,876$46.040%
Insurance$92,452$44.035%
Aerospace & Defense$89,028$43.030%

How Education impacts a Supported Employment Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Supported Employment Specialists enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Supported Employment Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $81,326 and $87,008).

Supported Employment Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Supported Employment Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.4%
High School 6.9%
Associates 1.7%
Bachelors 37.9%
Masters 44.8%
Doctorate 5.2%

Supported Employment Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Supported Employment Specialist'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 October 01, 2026
$57,039
Average $68,483/year
$73,952
$4,753
Average $5,707/month
$6,163
$1,097
Average $1,317/week
$1,422
$27
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,952 $6,163 $1,422 $36
Average $68,483 $5,707 $1,317 $33
25th Percentile $57,039 $4,753 $1,097 $27

Most common benefits for Supported Employment Specialist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Supported Employment Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Supported Employment Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Supported Employment Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Supported Employment Specialist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Supported Employment Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 70% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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