Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the current salary details for direct support professionals across the United States as of 2026:
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California offers the highest salary for direct support professionals at $54,935
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North Carolina has the lowest salary for direct support professionals at $23,789
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The national average salary for direct support professionals stands at $32,077
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The average hourly pay for direct support professionals is $15.42
For more information, you can read about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a crucial factor in job selection for most individuals. In surveys, the predominant inquiry is often, “How much do direct support professionals earn in my area?”
Understanding potential earnings can vary widely based on numerous factors, but robust data exists on average salaries for direct support professionals by state, categorized by seniority level. While local salaries may differ from state averages, these figures provide a valuable guideline for salary expectations.
As of now, California continues to lead in salaries for direct support professionals.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states for direct support professional salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the salary landscape and present a comprehensive ranking of states.
Highest-Paid Direct Support Professionals By State
| Rank | State | Average Direct Support Professional Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $54,935 | $27,000 | $108,000 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $42,775 | $34,000 | $53,000 |
| 3 | Arizona | $41,250 | $23,000 | $73,000 |
| 4 | Nevada | $40,140 | $21,000 | $76,000 |
| 5 | Alaska | $37,897 | $30,000 | $47,000 |
| 6 | Washington | $36,222 | $22,000 | $57,000 |
| 7 | Oregon | $36,088 | $21,000 | $61,000 |
| 8 | Texas | $35,265 | $21,000 | $57,000 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $34,731 | $22,000 | $52,000 |
| 10 | New York | $32,995 | $20,000 | $53,000 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $32,924 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $32,838 | $20,000 | $52,000 |
| 13 | Vermont | $32,526 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $32,416 | $19,000 | $53,000 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $31,846 | $21,000 | $46,000 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $31,263 | $19,000 | $48,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $30,358 | $18,000 | $49,000 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $30,120 | $18,000 | $50,000 |
| 19 | Maine | $29,992 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 20 | Michigan | $29,805 | $20,000 | $43,000 |
| 21 | Maryland | $29,754 | $18,000 | $47,000 |
| 22 | Idaho | $29,670 | $18,000 | $46,000 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $29,593 | $21,000 | $40,000 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $29,111 | $19,000 | $43,000 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $28,956 | $19,000 | $43,000 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $28,837 | $20,000 | $39,000 |
| 27 | Colorado | $28,345 | $19,000 | $41,000 |
| 28 | Alabama | $28,064 | $18,000 | $42,000 |
| 29 | Delaware | $27,858 | $16,000 | $45,000 |
| 30 | Utah | $27,633 | $16,000 | $44,000 |
| 31 | Florida | $27,612 | $17,000 | $44,000 |
| 32 | Montana | $27,492 | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| 33 | Illinois | $27,289 | $19,000 | $38,000 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $26,994 | $19,000 | $37,000 |
| 35 | Virginia | $26,583 | $16,000 | $41,000 |
| 36 | Ohio | $26,456 | $17,000 | $39,000 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $26,233 | $18,000 | $38,000 |
| 38 | Missouri | $26,107 | $17,000 | $37,000 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $25,972 | $17,000 | $38,000 |
| 40 | Iowa | $25,814 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| 41 | Indiana | $25,754 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $25,688 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| 43 | Georgia | $25,356 | $16,000 | $38,000 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $25,253 | $17,000 | $36,000 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $25,186 | $15,000 | $40,000 |
| 46 | Kansas | $24,454 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $24,372 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $24,083 | $16,000 | $35,000 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $23,893 | $15,000 | $37,000 |
| 50 | North Carolina | $23,789 | $15,000 | $35,000 |
Methodology: Direct Support Professional Salary By State
To gain insights into direct support professional salaries by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This information is supplemented by actual salary listings from job posts. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average from these inputs to determine average pay for direct support professionals by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data, identifying the state with the highest average salary for direct support professionals.
Direct Support Professional Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for direct support professionals?
The highest-paid state for direct support professionals is California, with an average salary of $54,935 per year.
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What city pays direct support professionals the most?
Santa Clara, CA offers the highest salary for direct support professionals, averaging $60,753 annually.
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What is the worst state for direct support professionals?
North Carolina ranks as the lowest-paying state for direct support professionals, with an average salary of $23,789 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.
