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Best states for a direct care professional
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for direct care professionals in the United States. Direct care professional positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for direct care professionals.In fact, our research shows that Maine is the best state for direct care professionals in America. The best city in America for direct care professionals with the highest pay is Vacaville, CA.
Maine is the best state for jobs for direct care professionals, and Florida is the worst. The most common pay in Maine is $29,786, while the median pay in Florida is $23,675.If you are currently seeking employment as a direct care professional, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for direct care professionals in 2025
1. Maine
Total direct care professional jobs: 359 Average annual salary: $29,786 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
2. Kentucky
Total direct care professional jobs: 655 Average annual salary: $30,405 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
3. Montana
Total direct care professional jobs: 248 Average annual salary: $29,436 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
4. West Virginia
Total direct care professional jobs: 338 Average annual salary: $28,511 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.34
5. Minnesota
Total direct care professional jobs: 1,771 Average annual salary: $29,168 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.61
6. Oregon
Total direct care professional jobs: 705 Average annual salary: $32,821 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
7. Washington
Total direct care professional jobs: 1,090 Average annual salary: $33,595 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
8. Arizona
Total direct care professional jobs: 1,182 Average annual salary: $29,233 Lowest 10 percent earn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
9. Ohio
Total direct care professional jobs: 1,753 Average annual salary: $29,322 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
10. Maryland
Total direct care professional jobs: 1,168 Average annual salary: $32,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
Direct care professional jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a direct care professional
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a direct care professional
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $29,786 | $24,000 | 1,335,907 | 359 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $30,405 | $23,000 | 4,454,189 | 655 |
| 3 | Montana | $29,436 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 248 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $28,511 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 338 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $29,168 | $22,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,771 |
| 6 | Oregon | $32,821 | $23,000 | 4,142,776 | 705 |
| 7 | Washington | $33,595 | $25,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,090 |
| 8 | Arizona | $29,233 | $21,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,182 |
| 9 | Ohio | $29,322 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,753 |
| 10 | Maryland | $32,339 | $23,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,168 |
| 11 | Vermont | $30,701 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 139 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $30,277 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,777 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $31,323 | $22,000 | 2,088,070 | 290 |
| 14 | Alaska | $29,642 | $25,000 | 739,795 | 165 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $33,422 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 160 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $28,539 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 204 |
| 17 | New York | $30,531 | $22,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,316 |
| 18 | Michigan | $27,180 | $20,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,741 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $31,758 | $23,000 | 3,588,184 | 460 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $29,552 | $22,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,763 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $27,082 | $20,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,230 |
| 22 | California | $32,152 | $22,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,628 |
| 23 | Iowa | $26,260 | $19,000 | 3,145,711 | 855 |
| 24 | Delaware | $26,637 | $19,000 | 961,939 | 344 |
| 25 | Nevada | $26,960 | $18,000 | 2,998,039 | 369 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $25,074 | $19,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,121 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $25,005 | $19,000 | 755,393 | 219 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $27,279 | $20,000 | 1,059,639 | 188 |
| 29 | Alabama | $26,403 | $19,000 | 4,874,747 | 671 |
| 30 | Colorado | $26,909 | $20,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,089 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $28,773 | $21,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,029 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $24,548 | $18,000 | 579,315 | 127 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $26,094 | $19,000 | 1,920,076 | 348 |
| 34 | Virginia | $27,440 | $20,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,359 |
| 35 | Texas | $26,336 | $19,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,710 |
| 36 | Missouri | $24,295 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,202 |
| 37 | Georgia | $25,391 | $19,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,709 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $28,035 | $20,000 | 693,972 | 222 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $25,970 | $20,000 | 1,342,795 | 249 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $24,818 | $18,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,674 |
| 41 | Illinois | $23,906 | $18,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,339 |
| 42 | Utah | $25,105 | $18,000 | 3,101,833 | 442 |
| 43 | Idaho | $24,725 | $18,000 | 1,716,943 | 234 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $22,244 | $16,000 | 2,984,100 | 433 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $23,726 | $17,000 | 3,930,864 | 482 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $22,564 | $16,000 | 4,684,333 | 567 |
| 47 | Kansas | $22,548 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 509 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $22,380 | $16,000 | 5,024,369 | 766 |
| 49 | Indiana | $22,772 | $17,000 | 6,666,818 | 957 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $23,206 | $17,000 | 3,004,279 | 212 |
| 51 | Florida | $23,675 | $17,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,602 |
Highest paying states for direct care professionals
| Rank | State | Avg. Direct Care Professional Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $29,786 |
| 2 | Kentucky | $30,405 |
| 3 | Montana | $29,436 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $28,511 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $29,168 |
| 6 | Oregon | $32,821 |
| 7 | Washington | $33,595 |
| 8 | Arizona | $29,233 |
| 9 | Ohio | $29,322 |
| 10 | Maryland | $32,339 |
| 11 | Vermont | $30,701 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $30,277 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $31,323 |
| 14 | Alaska | $29,642 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $33,422 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $28,539 |
| 17 | New York | $30,531 |
| 18 | Michigan | $27,180 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $31,758 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $29,552 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $27,082 |
| 22 | California | $32,152 |
| 23 | Iowa | $26,260 |
| 24 | Delaware | $26,637 |
| 25 | Nevada | $26,960 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $25,074 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $25,005 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $27,279 |
| 29 | Alabama | $26,403 |
| 30 | Colorado | $26,909 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $28,773 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $24,548 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $26,094 |
| 34 | Virginia | $27,440 |
| 35 | Texas | $26,336 |
| 36 | Missouri | $24,295 |
| 37 | Georgia | $25,391 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $28,035 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $25,970 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $24,818 |
| 41 | Illinois | $23,906 |
| 42 | Utah | $25,105 |
| 43 | Idaho | $24,725 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $22,244 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $23,726 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $22,564 |
| 47 | Kansas | $22,548 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $22,380 |
| 49 | Indiana | $22,772 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $23,206 |
| 51 | Florida | $23,675 |
Direct care professional best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025