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Best states for a direct care worker
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a direct care worker at Ellisville State School, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for direct care workers that you can check out, before you begin your journey. As direct care workers are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for direct care workers. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a direct care worker, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
Washington is the best state for jobs for direct care workers, and Arkansas is the worst. The most common pay in Washington is $34,899, while the median pay in Arkansas is $22,034.We found that the South is best for direct care workers, and the Northeast is the worst. Portland, ME is the best city in the country for direct care worker jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.
10 best states for direct care workers in 2025
1. Washington
Total direct care worker jobs: 1,743 Average annual salary: $34,899 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
2. Oregon
Total direct care worker jobs: 1,094 Average annual salary: $32,835 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 1.26
3. Maine
Total direct care worker jobs: 287 Average annual salary: $33,187 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
4. North Dakota
Total direct care worker jobs: 213 Average annual salary: $31,477 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
5. Minnesota
Total direct care worker jobs: 1,571 Average annual salary: $30,795 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
6. South Dakota
Total direct care worker jobs: 294 Average annual salary: $28,584 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Location Quotient: 1.31
7. New York
Total direct care worker jobs: 3,035 Average annual salary: $31,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
8. California
Total direct care worker jobs: 7,105 Average annual salary: $33,078 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
9. New Hampshire
Total direct care worker jobs: 469 Average annual salary: $29,610 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
10. Connecticut
Total direct care worker jobs: 760 Average annual salary: $30,652 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
Direct care worker jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a direct care worker
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a direct care worker
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $34,899 | $27,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,743 |
| 2 | Oregon | $32,835 | $25,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,094 |
| 3 | Maine | $33,187 | $28,000 | 1,335,907 | 287 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $31,477 | $26,000 | 755,393 | 213 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $30,795 | $25,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,571 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $28,584 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 294 |
| 7 | New York | $31,611 | $25,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,035 |
| 8 | California | $33,078 | $24,000 | 39,536,653 | 7,105 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $29,610 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 469 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $30,652 | $25,000 | 3,588,184 | 760 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $30,437 | $24,000 | 5,795,483 | 985 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $32,908 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,187 |
| 13 | Michigan | $28,677 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,610 |
| 14 | Alaska | $31,872 | $27,000 | 739,795 | 127 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $30,515 | $25,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,966 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $27,624 | $21,000 | 1,815,857 | 301 |
| 17 | Texas | $29,240 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,286 |
| 18 | Idaho | $27,528 | $21,000 | 1,716,943 | 365 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $28,300 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,913 |
| 20 | Vermont | $30,348 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 105 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $34,468 | $29,000 | 1,427,538 | 111 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $26,410 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 616 |
| 23 | Montana | $28,314 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 225 |
| 24 | Arizona | $27,667 | $20,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,054 |
| 25 | Colorado | $27,105 | $20,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,299 |
| 26 | Ohio | $26,627 | $20,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,768 |
| 27 | Illinois | $27,690 | $21,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,103 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $25,214 | $19,000 | 2,088,070 | 505 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $28,292 | $23,000 | 1,059,639 | 174 |
| 30 | Delaware | $25,547 | $19,000 | 961,939 | 372 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $23,924 | $18,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,729 |
| 32 | Alabama | $24,996 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,021 |
| 33 | Nevada | $26,417 | $20,000 | 2,998,039 | 352 |
| 34 | Missouri | $24,225 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,854 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $24,003 | $18,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,715 |
| 36 | Iowa | $25,450 | $20,000 | 3,145,711 | 687 |
| 37 | Utah | $25,437 | $19,000 | 3,101,833 | 677 |
| 38 | Maryland | $27,830 | $21,000 | 6,052,177 | 936 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $23,258 | $17,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,129 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $22,736 | $17,000 | 3,930,864 | 746 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $26,993 | $20,000 | 693,972 | 243 |
| 42 | Indiana | $24,973 | $19,000 | 6,666,818 | 779 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $24,720 | $19,000 | 579,315 | 89 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $24,570 | $18,000 | 4,454,189 | 551 |
| 45 | Georgia | $22,368 | $16,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,627 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $21,138 | $15,000 | 4,684,333 | 913 |
| 47 | Virginia | $23,708 | $18,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,020 |
| 48 | Florida | $22,306 | $16,000 | 20,984,400 | 3,087 |
| 49 | Kansas | $23,272 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 416 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $20,974 | $15,000 | 2,984,100 | 407 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $22,034 | $16,000 | 3,004,279 | 142 |
Highest paying states for direct care workers
| Rank | State | Avg. Direct Care Worker Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $34,899 |
| 2 | Oregon | $32,835 |
| 3 | Maine | $33,187 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $31,477 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $30,795 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $28,584 |
| 7 | New York | $31,611 |
| 8 | California | $33,078 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $29,610 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $30,652 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $30,437 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $32,908 |
| 13 | Michigan | $28,677 |
| 14 | Alaska | $31,872 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $30,515 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $27,624 |
| 17 | Texas | $29,240 |
| 18 | Idaho | $27,528 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $28,300 |
| 20 | Vermont | $30,348 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $34,468 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $26,410 |
| 23 | Montana | $28,314 |
| 24 | Arizona | $27,667 |
| 25 | Colorado | $27,105 |
| 26 | Ohio | $26,627 |
| 27 | Illinois | $27,690 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $25,214 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $28,292 |
| 30 | Delaware | $25,547 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $23,924 |
| 32 | Alabama | $24,996 |
| 33 | Nevada | $26,417 |
| 34 | Missouri | $24,225 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $24,003 |
| 36 | Iowa | $25,450 |
| 37 | Utah | $25,437 |
| 38 | Maryland | $27,830 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $23,258 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $22,736 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $26,993 |
| 42 | Indiana | $24,973 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $24,720 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $24,570 |
| 45 | Georgia | $22,368 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $21,138 |
| 47 | Virginia | $23,708 |
| 48 | Florida | $22,306 |
| 49 | Kansas | $23,272 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $20,974 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $22,034 |
Direct care worker best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025