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Direct care counselor salary
Average direct care counselor salary
$16.07
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Let Zippi find your next direct care counselor job
Average direct care counselor salary by state
Highest paying states for direct care counselors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $35,797 | $17.21 |
| 2 | Montana | $33,254 | $15.99 |
| 3 | Ohio | $33,883 | $16.29 |
| 4 | Maryland | $37,632 | $18.09 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $32,711 | $15.73 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $33,222 | $15.97 |
| 7 | New York | $33,603 | $16.16 |
| 8 | Oregon | $34,827 | $16.74 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $34,229 | $16.46 |
| 10 | Washington | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $31,018 | $14.91 |
| 12 | Iowa | $30,551 | $14.69 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $33,422 | $16.07 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $32,882 | $15.81 |
| 15 | Vermont | $33,276 | $16.00 |
| 16 | Delaware | $31,435 | $15.11 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $30,401 | $14.62 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $34,977 | $16.82 |
| 19 | Missouri | $29,717 | $14.29 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $31,247 | $15.02 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $30,221 | $14.53 |
| 22 | Michigan | $28,421 | $13.66 |
| 23 | Arizona | $29,221 | $14.05 |
| 24 | California | $33,694 | $16.20 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $27,574 | $13.26 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $32,520 | $15.63 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $28,099 | $13.51 |
| 28 | Alabama | $29,310 | $14.09 |
| 29 | Alaska | $32,525 | $15.64 |
| 30 | Virginia | $31,369 | $15.08 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $28,042 | $13.48 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $28,601 | $13.75 |
| 33 | Maine | $26,910 | $12.94 |
| 34 | Georgia | $28,380 | $13.64 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $32,577 | $15.66 |
| 36 | Illinois | $27,813 | $13.37 |
| 37 | Florida | $29,760 | $14.31 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $28,004 | $13.46 |
| 39 | Nevada | $27,042 | $13.00 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $29,286 | $14.08 |
| 41 | Colorado | $29,063 | $13.97 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $26,414 | $12.70 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $24,559 | $11.81 |
| 44 | Utah | $26,914 | $12.94 |
| 45 | Idaho | $26,814 | $12.89 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $25,097 | $12.07 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $24,445 | $11.75 |
| 48 | Indiana | $26,070 | $12.53 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $25,938 | $12.47 |
| 50 | Texas | $26,981 | $12.97 |
| 51 | Kansas | $25,519 | $12.27 |
Direct care counselor salary details
A direct care counselor's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a direct care counselor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $33,422 | $2,785 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying direct care counselor jobs
The highest paying types of direct care counselors are program counselor, student support counselor, and group counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Advisor | $33,593 | $2,799 | $16.15 | 47,150 |
| Direct Support Professional | $32,077 | $2,673 | $15.42 | 142,034 |
| Direct Support Staff | $31,268 | $2,606 | $15.03 | 182,001 |
| Counselor | $36,225 | $3,019 | $17.42 | 77,536 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Youth Counselor | $36,754 | $3,063 | $17.67 | 78,461 |
Top companies hiring direct care counselors now:
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Direct care counselor salary trends
The average direct care counselor salary has risen by $9,581 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average direct care counselor earned $23,841 annually, but today, they earn $33,422 a year. That works out to a 26% change in pay for direct care counselors over the last decade.
Compare direct care counselor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average direct care counselor salary over time
Compare direct care counselor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Direct care counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,400 | $16.07 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | $31,200 | $14.98 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | $29,000 | $13.95 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $27,900 | $13.42 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | $26,500 | $12.73 | +4.3% |
Recently added direct care counselor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easterseals Port | Direct Care Technician/Counselor | Wilmington, NC | 06/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| Northeast Florida Area Agency | Veteran Directed Care (VDC) Person-Centered Counselor | Jacksonville, FL | 05/22/2025 | $37,691 |
| Rite of Passage Brand | PRN Direct Care Staff/Coach Counselor | Daytona Beach, FL | 05/17/2025 | $39,653 |
| VNS Health | Spiritual Care Counselor, Hospice Home Care | New York, NY | 05/14/2025 | $62,400 |
| Servicenet | Direct Care Counselor | Pittsfield, MA | 04/02/2025 | $37,566 |
| BTST Services | Direct Care Counselor | Baltimore, MD | 03/16/2025 | $62,610 |
| Wheeler | Direct Care Counselor-Farmhill Group Home | Plainville, CT | 03/15/2025 | $43,827 |
| Ikuslife | Weekend Respite Care Counselor (Variable Schedule) | Grand Rapids, MI | 02/18/2025 | $22,435 |
| Northeast Florida Area Agency | Veteran Directed Care (VDC) Person-Centered Counselor | Jacksonville, FL | 02/14/2025 | $37,691 |
| Constructive Partnerships Unlimited | Direct Care Counselor | New York, NY | 02/06/2025 | $36,293 |
Direct care counselor salary FAQs
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