Research Summary. Following comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest insights on direct care staffer salaries by state across the United States in 2026:
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Oregon offers the highest average salary for direct care staffers at $36,973
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Mississippi has the lowest average salary for direct care staffers at $21,872
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The national average salary for direct care staffers is $30,480
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The national hourly pay for direct care staffers is $14.65
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In numerous surveys conducted across various demographics, salary continues to be the top priority for most job seekers. A critical question remains: how much do direct care staffers earn in my area?
While individual earnings can vary significantly based on location, experience, and employer, the available data provides a solid benchmark for average salaries among direct care staffers by state, adjusted for seniority levels. These averages help set realistic salary expectations.
Currently, the state with the highest salary for direct care staffers is Oregon.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for direct care staffer salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and review a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Direct Care Staffers By State
| Rank | State | Average Direct Care Staffer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $36,973 | $24,000 | $55,000 |
| 2 | New York | $35,326 | $22,000 | $56,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $35,112 | $24,000 | $50,000 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $34,677 | $21,000 | $55,000 |
| 5 | Maine | $33,898 | $24,000 | $46,000 |
| 6 | California | $33,607 | $21,000 | $52,000 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $32,931 | $28,000 | $38,000 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $32,285 | $20,000 | $51,000 |
| 9 | Alaska | $31,898 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $31,787 | $20,000 | $49,000 |
| 11 | Vermont | $31,182 | $22,000 | $43,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $31,021 | $20,000 | $46,000 |
| 13 | Texas | $30,806 | $21,000 | $44,000 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $30,768 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $30,382 | $19,000 | $48,000 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $29,317 | $21,000 | $40,000 |
| 17 | Arizona | $29,022 | $19,000 | $42,000 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $28,821 | $18,000 | $45,000 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $27,990 | $19,000 | $40,000 |
| 20 | Idaho | $27,617 | $19,000 | $40,000 |
| 21 | Montana | $27,614 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $27,474 | $20,000 | $37,000 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $27,420 | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $27,195 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $27,166 | $20,000 | $36,000 |
| 26 | Nevada | $27,132 | $17,000 | $41,000 |
| 27 | Colorado | $27,080 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| 28 | Delaware | $26,841 | $16,000 | $42,000 |
| 29 | Illinois | $26,745 | $19,000 | $36,000 |
| 30 | Ohio | $26,547 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 31 | Michigan | $26,486 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 32 | Utah | $26,125 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $26,104 | $18,000 | $37,000 |
| 34 | Iowa | $25,988 | $19,000 | $35,000 |
| 35 | Alabama | $25,941 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $25,782 | $18,000 | $35,000 |
| 37 | Maryland | $25,289 | $16,000 | $39,000 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $25,101 | $18,000 | $34,000 |
| 39 | Missouri | $24,571 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 40 | Virginia | $24,523 | $16,000 | $36,000 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $24,448 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $23,996 | $17,000 | $33,000 |
| 43 | Kansas | $23,533 | $17,000 | $32,000 |
| 44 | Georgia | $23,141 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| 45 | Indiana | $23,000 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $22,794 | $16,000 | $31,000 |
| 47 | Florida | $22,322 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $22,269 | $15,000 | $32,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $22,018 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $21,872 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
Methodology: Direct Care Staffer Salary By State
To analyze direct care staffer compensation across the states, Zippia has collected data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Fair Labor Center (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is complemented by actual salaries listed in job postings. Our data science team then computes a weighted average of these metrics to determine the average pay for direct care staffers in each state.
We ranked every state based on these average annual salary estimates, where the highest salary reflects the state with the best compensation for direct care staffers.
Direct Care Staffer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for direct care staffers?
The highest-paid state for direct care staffers is Oregon with an average salary of $36,973 per year.
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What city pays direct care staffers the most?
Salem, OR pays direct care staffers the highest average salary at $37,109 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for direct care staffers?
The lowest-paying state for direct care staffers is Mississippi with an average salary of $21,872 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
