Best cities for a direct support staff
The best cities for direct support staff are Stockton, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Anaheim, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for direct support staff vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for direct support staff in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a direct support staff or considering a move, this list of the best cities for direct support staff to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for direct support staff. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a direct support staff. While the absolute best city for direct support staff is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for direct support staff in 2024.
If you're looking for a direct support staff job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for direct support staff in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $44,752 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location quotient: 2.98 2. Sacramento, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $44,057 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location quotient: 3.55 3. Anaheim, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $42,229 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location quotient: 4.17 4. San Francisco, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,585 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Oakland, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,304 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. North Las Vegas, NV
Total direct support staff jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $30,932 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 116.04 7. San Jose, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,255 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fremont, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $46,184 Lowest 10 percent warn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Las Vegas, NV
Total direct support staff jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $31,178 Lowest 10 percent warn: $16,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 2.69 10. Riverside, CA
Total direct support staff jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $41,551 Lowest 10 percent warn: $21,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location quotient: 3.54
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Best cities for direct support staff
- Stockton, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Anaheim, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- San Jose, CA
- Fremont, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Riverside, CA
- (1 direct support staff jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a direct support staff
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $44,752 | $22,000 | 307,072 | 1 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $44,057 | $21,000 | 495,234 | 7 |
| 3 | Anaheim, CA | $42,229 | $22,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $46,585 | $22,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $46,304 | $22,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | North Las Vegas, NV | $30,932 | $16,000 | 238,702 | 12 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $46,255 | $22,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 8 | Fremont, CA | $46,184 | $22,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,178 | $16,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 10 | Riverside, CA | $41,551 | $21,000 | 324,722 | 2 |
| 11 | Fresno, CA | $43,927 | $22,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 12 | Bakersfield, CA | $43,742 | $22,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 13 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,003 | $22,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 14 | Long Beach, CA | $42,541 | $22,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 15 | Reno, NV | $32,531 | $16,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,105 | $16,000 | 1,567,872 | 5 |
| 17 | Santa Ana, CA | $42,098 | $22,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 18 | Irvine, CA | $41,910 | $22,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 19 | Toledo, OH | $32,014 | $21,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $32,561 | $20,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 21 | Henderson, NV | $31,107 | $16,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 22 | Cincinnati, OH | $30,850 | $21,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 23 | San Diego, CA | $40,362 | $21,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 24 | Columbus, OH | $31,236 | $20,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | $29,507 | $17,000 | 1,492,510 | - |
| 26 | Austin, TX | $28,988 | $17,000 | 947,890 | 1 |
| 27 | Lexington, KY | $30,781 | $21,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 28 | Houston, TX | $28,927 | $17,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 29 | Chula Vista, CA | $40,130 | $21,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | $30,724 | $21,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $36,030 | $27,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 32 | Jersey City, NJ | $32,446 | $17,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 33 | Albuquerque, NM | $32,482 | $20,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 34 | Newark, NJ | $32,404 | $17,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 35 | Boston, MA | $32,978 | $19,000 | 673,184 | 10 |
| 36 | Pittsburgh, PA | $27,286 | $16,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 37 | Seattle, WA | $34,024 | $21,000 | 704,352 | - |
| 38 | Laredo, TX | $30,334 | $18,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 39 | Hempstead, NY | $32,827 | $17,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 40 | New York, NY | $32,726 | $17,000 | 8,537,673 | 7 |
| 41 | Corpus Christi, TX | $29,925 | $18,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 42 | Glendale, AZ | $28,932 | $16,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 43 | El Paso, TX | $29,831 | $18,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 44 | Madison, WI | $28,715 | $20,000 | 252,551 | 2 |
| 45 | Nashville, TN | $25,732 | $17,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $28,859 | $16,000 | 1,615,017 | - |
| 47 | Milwaukee, WI | $29,062 | $20,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $32,484 | $19,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 49 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $40,213 | $32,000 | 351,792 | - |
| 50 | Scottsdale, AZ | $28,685 | $16,000 | 246,645 | - |
Highest paying cities for direct support staff
| Rank | City | Avg. direct support staff salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Maria, CA | $45,664 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $34,145 |
| 3 | Fall River, MA | $33,538 |
| 4 | Laurel, MD | $33,473 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $32,726 |
| 6 | Gresham, OR | $32,386 |
| 7 | Windham, CT | $32,375 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,178 |
| 9 | Cedar City, UT | $27,457 |
| 10 | Saint Cloud, MN | $27,051 |
| 11 | Joplin, MO | $26,227 |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $24,556 |
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Updated January 8, 2025