How to hire a direct service provider

How to hire a direct service provider, step by step

Here's a step-by-step direct service provider hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a direct service provider job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new direct service provider
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a direct service provider, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect direct service provider also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of direct service providers.

   Type of Direct Service Provider	Description	Hourly rate
   Direct Service Provider	Personal care aides help clients with self-care and everyday tasks. They also provide social supports and assistance that enable clients to participate in their communities.	$10-17
   Aide	Aides are personal employees of their clients who commonly have health issues that render them unable to do certain tasks. They help out their clients with activities they may need assistance in... Show more	$10-16
   Assisted Living Administrator	An Assisted Living Administrator oversees an assisted living facility's daily operations that accommodate elderly residents, ensuring that they get optimal care and service. They are responsible for performing managerial tasks such as setting objectives and schedules, managing budgets, liaising with suppliers and other partners, gathering and analyzing data to identify the residents' needs, and monitoring the operations, resolving issues should any arise... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Direct Care
   • Mental Illness
   • Intellectual Disabilities
   • Developmental Disabilities
   • Direct Services
   • CPR
   • Independent Living
   • Administer Medications
   • Meal Prep
   • ADL
   • Vital Signs
   • Medical Appointments
   • ABA
   • Motor Vehicle

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Train and experience in adult and child first aid and CPR.
   • Certify medicine administer, CPR and first aid certify, CPI certify.
   • Assist residents in activities of daily living (ADL's) on a daily basis.
   • Prepare documents on the computer for annual ISP meetings with clients and their team members.
   • Pass medications, attend ISP meetings, help with personal hygiene, work on state goals.
   • Job duties include job coaching, skill training, ADL management, and implementing behavior management plans.

   More direct service provider duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your direct service provider job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A direct service provider salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a direct service provider in Georgia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level direct service provider usually earns less than a senior-level direct service provider. Additionally, a direct service provider with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average direct service provider salary

   $13.70hourly

   $28,496 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level direct service provider salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average direct service provider salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$37,752	$18
   2	California	$28,937	$14
   3	Illinois	$28,854	$14
   4	New York	$27,801	$13
   5	Arizona	$27,427	$13
   6	Pennsylvania	$27,375	$13
   7	Iowa	$27,115	$13
   8	Virginia	$25,632	$12
   9	Ohio	$24,897	$12
   10	North Carolina	$24,768	$12
   11	Arkansas	$22,581	$11

   Average direct service provider salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	North Carolina A&T State University	$30,078	$14.46	1
   2	Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family	$29,053	$13.97	533
   3	Reach	$28,902	$13.90	10
   4	St Francis Health Services Corporation	$28,397	$13.65	1
   5	Merakey	$28,122	$13.52	400
   6	Exceptional Family Resources	$27,828	$13.38	86
   7	Express Employment Indy South	$27,765	$13.35	1
   8	National Mentor Holdings Inc.	$27,727	$13.33
   9	MAC Cosmetics	$27,391	$13.17

4. Writing a direct service provider job description

   A direct service provider job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a direct service provider job description:

   Direct service provider job description example

   This care provider position earns a competitive wage of $15.15 - $17.00 per hour , depending on experience and length of service. We provide excellent benefits , including medical, dental, vision, a discounted gym membership, discount programs for shopping and dining, and bi-weekly pay . If this sounds like the right caregiving opportunity for you, apply today and join our care provider team!

   
   

   ABOUT FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS

   Established in 2014, Family Care Connections has over forty years of combined experience in respite care habilitation and attendant care services. We value the quality of care we provide and continuously seek better ways to serve the families and members we are entrusted to care for. Our unique family-centric perspective sets us apart, and we are known for providing the best care possible.

   Without caring employees, we cannot operate. We always look to hire compassionate and loving humans and seek people that have a true desire to make a difference in the world. Our exceptionally caring employees are the key to our success. That is why we take great care of them and have built a very supportive work environment for them to thrive!

   
   

   A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CAREGIVER / DIRECT SUPPORT PROVIDER

   In this caregiving position, you play a crucial role in our company. Every day you come to work eager to provide quality care for the individual you help. You aid them by completing various important tasks, including assisting with daily living skills, working on meeting socialization goals, managing personal finances, and taking them out in the community. Going above and beyond, you also provide vital support to their family as needed.

   You build great trust with those you help, and your caring nature always shines through. Always willing to lend a helping hand, you get great satisfaction in knowing your compassion brings so much joy to our clients and their families !

   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS FOR A CAREGIVER / DIRECT SUPPORT PROVIDER

   • Willingness to attend in-person training
   • Level 1 fingerprint card
   • Ability to obtain a level 2 fingerprint clearance card
   • Willingness to comply with our company policy regarding background checks
   • Heart for working with people with disabilities

   Are you caring and able to easily build relationships? Can you maintain a professional demeanor? Do you want a job that offers meaningful work ? If yes, you might just be perfect for this care provider position!

   
   

   ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR CAREGIVING TEAM?

   If you feel that you would be right for this care provider job at our caregiving organization, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!

   Location: 85308

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find direct service providers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any direct service providers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level direct service providers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your direct service provider job on Zippia to find and recruit direct service provider candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit direct service providers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new direct service provider

   Once you've selected the best direct service provider candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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