Best cities for a direct care professional
The best cities for direct care professionals are Albuquerque, NM, Toledo, OH, and Philadelphia, PA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for direct care professionals vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for direct care professionals in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a direct care professional or considering a move, this list of the best cities for direct care professionals to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for direct care professionals. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a direct care professional. While the absolute best city for direct care professionals is Albuquerque, NM, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for direct care professionals in 2024.
If you're looking for a direct care professional job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for direct care professionals in 2026
1. Albuquerque, NM
Total direct care professional jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $31,312 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location quotient: 1.76 2. Toledo, OH
Total direct care professional jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $29,670 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 1.32 3. Philadelphia, PA
Total direct care professional jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $30,416 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 0.73 4. Pittsburgh, PA
Total direct care professional jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $29,187 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location quotient: 3.31 5. Cincinnati, OH
Total direct care professional jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $28,424 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 2.45 6. Mesa, AZ
Total direct care professional jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $29,240 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 8.75 7. Glendale, AZ
Total direct care professional jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $29,368 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 2.14 8. Saint Paul, MN
Total direct care professional jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $29,188 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 1.23 9. Cleveland, OH
Total direct care professional jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $30,237 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Stockton, CA
Total direct care professional jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $33,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location quotient: 3.31
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Best cities for direct care professionals
- Albuquerque, NM
- Toledo, OH
- Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Mesa, AZ
- Glendale, AZ
- Saint Paul, MN
- Cleveland, OH
- Stockton, CA
- (4 direct care professional jobs)
- (1 direct care professional jobs)
- (6 direct care professional jobs)
- (17 direct care professional jobs)
- (9 direct care professional jobs)
- (7 direct care professional jobs)
- (1 direct care professional jobs)
- (4 direct care professional jobs)
- (0 direct care professional jobs)
- (2 direct care professional jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a direct care professional
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $31,312 | $22,000 | 559,277 | 4 |
| 2 | Toledo, OH | $29,670 | $22,000 | 278,508 | 1 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,416 | $22,000 | 1,567,872 | 6 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $29,187 | $21,000 | 303,625 | 17 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH | $28,424 | $21,000 | 298,800 | 9 |
| 6 | Mesa, AZ | $29,240 | $21,000 | 484,587 | 7 |
| 7 | Glendale, AZ | $29,368 | $21,000 | 245,895 | 1 |
| 8 | Saint Paul, MN | $29,188 | $22,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $30,237 | $22,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $33,255 | $22,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 11 | Reno, NV | $27,731 | $18,000 | 245,255 | 2 |
| 12 | Tucson, AZ | $29,010 | $20,000 | 530,706 | 3 |
| 13 | Scottsdale, AZ | $29,311 | $21,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $29,350 | $21,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $28,842 | $21,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 16 | Detroit, MI | $27,251 | $20,000 | 672,795 | 2 |
| 17 | Minneapolis, MN | $29,183 | $22,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 18 | San Francisco, CA | $33,760 | $22,000 | 870,887 | 3 |
| 19 | Louisville, KY | $30,399 | $23,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 20 | Lexington, KY | $30,387 | $23,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 21 | Seattle, WA | $33,665 | $25,000 | 704,352 | 3 |
| 22 | Oakland, CA | $33,665 | $22,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 23 | Fremont, CA | $33,545 | $22,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 24 | Chandler, AZ | $29,260 | $21,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 25 | Portland, OR | $32,559 | $23,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 26 | Gilbert, AZ | $29,240 | $21,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 27 | Memphis, TN | $25,053 | $18,000 | 652,717 | 1 |
| 28 | San Jose, CA | $33,489 | $22,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 29 | El Paso, TX | $28,025 | $20,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 30 | Sacramento, CA | $33,235 | $22,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 31 | Milwaukee, WI | $26,943 | $20,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 32 | Madison, WI | $26,675 | $20,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 33 | Las Vegas, NV | $26,888 | $18,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 34 | Austin, TX | $26,666 | $19,000 | 947,890 | 4 |
| 35 | Nashville, TN | $25,111 | $19,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 36 | Fresno, CA | $32,674 | $22,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 37 | Long Beach, CA | $31,662 | $22,000 | 470,130 | 1 |
| 38 | Henderson, NV | $26,849 | $18,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 39 | North Las Vegas, NV | $26,831 | $18,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 40 | Omaha, NE | $26,059 | $19,000 | 446,970 | 1 |
| 41 | Los Angeles, CA | $31,814 | $22,000 | 3,976,322 | 6 |
| 42 | Irvine, CA | $31,514 | $22,000 | 266,122 | 4 |
| 43 | Brookhaven, NY | $30,595 | $22,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $25,888 | $19,000 | 392,772 | 1 |
| 45 | Islip, NY | $30,571 | $22,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 46 | Oyster Bay, NY | $30,562 | $22,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 47 | Baltimore, MD | $32,462 | $23,000 | 614,664 | - |
| 48 | Hempstead, NY | $30,521 | $22,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 49 | Anchorage, AK | $29,602 | $24,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 50 | New York, NY | $30,491 | $22,000 | 8,537,673 | - |
Highest paying cities for direct care professionals
| Rank | City | Avg. direct care professional salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacaville, CA | $33,506 |
| 2 | New Britain, CT | $31,714 |
| 3 | Poughkeepsie, NY | $30,571 |
| 4 | Reading, PA | $30,401 |
| 5 | South Portland, ME | $29,852 |
| 6 | Chicopee, MA | $29,706 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $29,670 |
| 8 | Livingston, NJ | $28,880 |
| 9 | Washington, MI | $27,568 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $26,926 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX | $26,741 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $23,884 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $22,669 |











