Best cities for a direct care worker
The best cities for direct care workers are El Paso, TX, Detroit, MI, and San Antonio, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for direct care workers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for direct care workers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a direct care worker or considering a move, this list of the best cities for direct care workers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for direct care workers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a direct care worker. While the absolute best city for direct care workers is El Paso, TX, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for direct care workers in 2024.
If you're looking for a direct care worker job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for direct care workers in 2025
1. El Paso, TX
Direct care worker jobs in El PasoTotal direct care worker jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $30,824 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 1.77 2. Detroit, MI
Direct care worker jobs in DetroitTotal direct care worker jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $28,628 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 1.75 3. San Antonio, TX
Direct care worker jobs in San AntonioTotal direct care worker jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $29,641 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.57 4. Portland, OR
Direct care worker jobs in PortlandTotal direct care worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $32,824 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Minneapolis, MN
Direct care worker jobs in MinneapolisTotal direct care worker jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $30,793 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location quotient: 0.27 6. Madison, WI
Direct care worker jobs in MadisonTotal direct care worker jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $30,184 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location quotient: 0.74 7. Pittsburgh, PA
Direct care worker jobs in PittsburghTotal direct care worker jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $27,651 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location quotient: 4.11 8. Philadelphia, PA
Direct care worker jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal direct care worker jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $28,322 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Location quotient: 3.89 9. Milwaukee, WI
Direct care worker jobs in MilwaukeeTotal direct care worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $30,324 Lowest 10 percent warn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Corpus Christi, TX
Direct care worker jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal direct care worker jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $29,771 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for direct care workers
- El Paso, TX
- Detroit, MI
- San Antonio, TX
- Portland, OR
- Minneapolis, MN
- Madison, WI
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Milwaukee, WI
- Corpus Christi, TX
Detailed list of the best cities for a direct care worker
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso, TX | $30,824 | $23,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $28,628 | $22,000 | 672,795 | 11 |
| 3 | San Antonio, TX | $29,641 | $21,000 | 1,492,510 | 5 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $32,824 | $25,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $30,793 | $25,000 | 413,651 | 3 |
| 6 | Madison, WI | $30,184 | $23,000 | 252,551 | 4 |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $27,651 | $21,000 | 303,625 | 37 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $28,322 | $22,000 | 1,567,872 | 56 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $30,324 | $24,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 10 | Corpus Christi, TX | $29,771 | $21,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 11 | Saint Paul, MN | $30,792 | $25,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 12 | Anchorage, AK | $31,990 | $27,000 | 298,192 | 1 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $27,540 | $21,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 14 | Seattle, WA | $35,090 | $27,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $29,145 | $21,000 | 2,303,482 | 3 |
| 16 | Toledo, OH | $27,372 | $21,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 17 | Laredo, TX | $30,169 | $22,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $29,327 | $21,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX | $28,851 | $21,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 20 | Arlington, TX | $28,828 | $21,000 | 392,772 | - |
| 21 | Glendale, AZ | $27,716 | $20,000 | 245,895 | 6 |
| 22 | Irving, TX | $28,802 | $21,000 | 238,289 | - |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $28,791 | $21,000 | 1,317,929 | - |
| 24 | Lubbock, TX | $29,477 | $22,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 25 | Plano, TX | $28,762 | $21,000 | 286,057 | - |
| 26 | Garland, TX | $28,762 | $21,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 27 | Columbus, OH | $26,160 | $20,000 | 860,090 | 1 |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $30,532 | $25,000 | 673,184 | 8 |
| 29 | Mesa, AZ | $27,596 | $20,000 | 484,587 | 23 |
| 30 | San Francisco, CA | $34,094 | $25,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 31 | Oakland, CA | $34,036 | $25,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 32 | Fremont, CA | $33,966 | $25,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 33 | Phoenix, AZ | $27,690 | $20,000 | 1,615,017 | 17 |
| 34 | San Jose, CA | $33,938 | $25,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 35 | Chandler, AZ | $27,632 | $20,000 | 247,477 | 5 |
| 36 | Newark, NJ | $33,040 | $26,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 37 | Stockton, CA | $33,764 | $25,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 38 | Jersey City, NJ | $33,036 | $26,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 39 | Sacramento, CA | $33,753 | $25,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 40 | Cincinnati, OH | $25,502 | $19,000 | 298,800 | 2 |
| 41 | Reno, NV | $27,196 | $20,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 42 | Brookhaven, NY | $31,642 | $25,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 43 | Oyster Bay, NY | $31,612 | $25,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 44 | Scottsdale, AZ | $27,624 | $20,000 | 246,645 | 2 |
| 45 | Tucson, AZ | $27,431 | $20,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 46 | Islip, NY | $31,597 | $25,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 47 | Hempstead, NY | $31,553 | $25,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 48 | New York, NY | $31,548 | $25,000 | 8,537,673 | 4 |
| 49 | Buffalo, NY | $32,115 | $26,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 50 | Omaha, NE | $26,484 | $20,000 | 446,970 | - |
Highest paying cities for direct care workers
| Rank | City | Avg. direct care worker salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $33,181 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $32,824 |
| 3 | Amherst, NY | $32,134 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | $30,824 |
| 5 | Pittsfield, MA | $30,619 |
| 6 | East Lansing, MI | $28,703 |
| 7 | Bethlehem, PA | $28,652 |
| 8 | Yuma, AZ | $28,261 |
| 9 | Springfield, OH | $26,061 |
| 10 | Clarksville, TN | $24,080 |
| 11 | Cape Girardeau, MO | $23,811 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $23,618 |
| 13 | Daytona Beach, FL | $22,264 |
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Updated January 8, 2025