Best cities for a direct support professional
The best cities for direct support professionals are Long Beach, CA, Anaheim, CA, and Santa Ana, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for direct support professionals vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for direct support professionals in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a direct support professional or considering a move, this list of the best cities for direct support professionals to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for direct support professionals. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a direct support professional. While the absolute best city for direct support professionals is Long Beach, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for direct support professionals in 2024.
If you're looking for a direct support professional job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for direct support professionals in 2026
1. Long Beach, CA
Direct support professional jobs in Long BeachTotal direct support professional jobs: 43 Average annual salary: $52,951 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location quotient: 1.36 2. Anaheim, CA
Direct support professional jobs in AnaheimTotal direct support professional jobs: 36 Average annual salary: $52,655 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 1.38 3. Santa Ana, CA
Direct support professional jobs in Santa AnaTotal direct support professional jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $52,395 Lowest 10 percent warn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location quotient: 1.36 4. Mesa, AZ
Direct support professional jobs in MesaTotal direct support professional jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $40,960 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location quotient: 1.36 5. Stockton, CA
Direct support professional jobs in StocktonTotal direct support professional jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $59,007 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location quotient: 0.82 6. Glendale, AZ
Direct support professional jobs in GlendaleTotal direct support professional jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $41,556 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location quotient: 0.49 7. Fresno, CA
Direct support professional jobs in FresnoTotal direct support professional jobs: 14 Average annual salary: $57,535 Lowest 10 percent warn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location quotient: 0.48 8. Chula Vista, CA
Direct support professional jobs in Chula VistaTotal direct support professional jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $48,871 Lowest 10 percent warn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.94 9. Tucson, AZ
Direct support professional jobs in TucsonTotal direct support professional jobs: 42 Average annual salary: $39,890 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location quotient: 0.72 10. Corpus Christi, TX
Direct support professional jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal direct support professional jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $36,732 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location quotient: 0.76
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Best cities for direct support professionals
- Long Beach, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Mesa, AZ
- Stockton, CA
- Glendale, AZ
- Fresno, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
- Tucson, AZ
- Corpus Christi, TX
- (43 direct support professional jobs)
- (36 direct support professional jobs)
- (35 direct support professional jobs)
- (33 direct support professional jobs)
- (15 direct support professional jobs)
- (7 direct support professional jobs)
- (14 direct support professional jobs)
- (7 direct support professional jobs)
- (42 direct support professional jobs)
- (9 direct support professional jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a direct support professional
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Beach, CA | $52,951 | $26,000 | 470,130 | 43 |
| 2 | Anaheim, CA | $52,655 | $26,000 | 351,043 | 36 |
| 3 | Santa Ana, CA | $52,395 | $26,000 | 334,217 | 35 |
| 4 | Mesa, AZ | $40,960 | $22,000 | 484,587 | 33 |
| 5 | Stockton, CA | $59,007 | $28,000 | 307,072 | 15 |
| 6 | Glendale, AZ | $41,556 | $22,000 | 245,895 | 7 |
| 7 | Fresno, CA | $57,535 | $28,000 | 522,053 | 14 |
| 8 | Chula Vista, CA | $48,871 | $25,000 | 267,172 | 7 |
| 9 | Tucson, AZ | $39,890 | $22,000 | 530,706 | 42 |
| 10 | Corpus Christi, TX | $36,732 | $22,000 | 325,733 | 9 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,677 | $20,000 | 632,912 | 64 |
| 12 | Bakersfield, CA | $56,367 | $27,000 | 376,380 | 10 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $29,628 | $21,000 | 413,651 | 148 |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $43,131 | $21,000 | 245,255 | 13 |
| 15 | Lubbock, TX | $35,127 | $21,000 | 252,506 | 10 |
| 16 | Saint Paul, MN | $29,624 | $21,000 | 302,398 | 193 |
| 17 | Toledo, OH | $27,064 | $18,000 | 278,508 | 39 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $35,168 | $20,000 | 639,863 | 158 |
| 19 | Hempstead, NY | $33,134 | $20,000 | 759,757 | 4 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,629 | $18,000 | 1,567,872 | 219 |
| 21 | Oakland, CA | $60,742 | $29,000 | 420,005 | 14 |
| 22 | Riverside, CA | $51,982 | $26,000 | 324,722 | 11 |
| 23 | Henderson, NV | $39,420 | $20,000 | 292,969 | 6 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA | $28,508 | $18,000 | 303,625 | 170 |
| 25 | San Diego, CA | $49,258 | $25,000 | 1,406,630 | 143 |
| 26 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,435 | $22,000 | 1,615,017 | 99 |
| 27 | Los Angeles, CA | $53,814 | $27,000 | 3,976,322 | 135 |
| 28 | Austin, TX | $35,779 | $21,000 | 947,890 | 125 |
| 29 | Cleveland, OH | $27,333 | $18,000 | 385,809 | 63 |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $37,960 | $22,000 | 683,080 | 10 |
| 31 | Albuquerque, NM | $30,093 | $17,000 | 559,277 | 33 |
| 32 | Chandler, AZ | $41,108 | $22,000 | 247,477 | 13 |
| 33 | Anchorage, AK | $38,149 | $30,000 | 298,192 | 12 |
| 34 | San Jose, CA | $60,581 | $29,000 | 1,025,350 | 73 |
| 35 | Fort Wayne, IN | $26,287 | $18,000 | 264,488 | 36 |
| 36 | Sacramento, CA | $58,387 | $28,000 | 495,234 | 23 |
| 37 | Milwaukee, WI | $26,917 | $18,000 | 595,047 | 84 |
| 38 | Fremont, CA | $60,555 | $29,000 | 233,136 | 17 |
| 39 | San Antonio, TX | $36,370 | $21,000 | 1,492,510 | 41 |
| 40 | Indianapolis, IN | $25,575 | $17,000 | 855,164 | 164 |
| 41 | Irvine, CA | $52,097 | $26,000 | 266,122 | 31 |
| 42 | Columbus, OH | $25,991 | $17,000 | 860,090 | 127 |
| 43 | Scottsdale, AZ | $41,151 | $22,000 | 246,645 | 10 |
| 44 | Arlington, TX | $34,215 | $21,000 | 392,772 | 7 |
| 45 | Cincinnati, OH | $25,513 | $17,000 | 298,800 | 66 |
| 46 | San Francisco, CA | $61,065 | $29,000 | 870,887 | 41 |
| 47 | Oklahoma City, OK | $29,078 | $19,000 | 638,367 | 37 |
| 48 | Memphis, TN | $24,392 | $16,000 | 652,717 | 84 |
| 49 | Wichita, KS | $24,429 | $16,000 | 389,902 | 53 |
| 50 | Newark, NJ | $32,591 | $19,000 | 281,764 | 23 |
Highest paying cities for direct support professionals
| Rank | City | Avg. direct support professional salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara, CA | $60,753 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,435 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,677 |
| 4 | Olympia, WA | $37,057 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $36,370 |
| 6 | Salem, OR | $36,067 |
| 7 | Lynn, MA | $34,511 |
| 8 | Plainview, NY | $33,196 |
| 9 | Trumbull, CT | $32,959 |
| 10 | Fargo, ND | $32,888 |
| 11 | Toms River, NJ | $32,250 |
| 12 | Salem, NH | $32,003 |
| 13 | Middletown, PA | $30,864 |
| 14 | Portland, ME | $30,105 |
| 15 | Baltimore, MD | $30,021 |
| 16 | Saint Cloud, MN | $29,949 |
| 17 | Sioux Falls, SD | $28,695 |
| 18 | Green Bay, WI | $27,996 |
| 19 | Bloomington, IL | $26,448 |
| 20 | Richmond, VA | $26,414 |
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Updated January 8, 2025