How to hire a direct support staff

How to hire a direct support staff, step by step

Here's a step-by-step direct support staff 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 support staff job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new direct support staff
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a direct support staff do?

Post a direct support staff job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your direct support staff job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a direct support staff for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a direct support staff to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a direct support staff that fits the bill.

   This list presents direct support staff salaries for various positions.

   Type of Direct Support Staff	Description	Hourly rate
   Direct Support Staff	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.	$8-25
   Attending, Ambulatory Care	An attending, ambulatory care is responsible for providing patient care, supporting ongoing treatment of health issues, and managing recovery through coordinating with attending physicians or other medical professionals. They evaluate medical records, including history and consultation purposes, develop a necessary care plan, keep an accurate medical chart, and schedule laboratory tests and follow-up as needed... Show more	$9-20
   Companion	A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients... Show more	$10-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Direct Support
   • Direct Care
   • Transport Clients
   • Good Judgment
   • Home Maintenance
   • Ongoing Support
   • Community Events
   • Money Management
   • Behavioral Issues
   • Mental Health
   • Community Involvement
   • Intellectual Disabilities
   • Meal Prep
   • Administer Medications

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Ensure HIPAA compliance and provide client education.
   • Perform first aid, CPR and seizure care when require.
   • Assist mentally disable adults with ADL such as bathing cooking clothing, cleaning and medication administration.
   • Administer medication, provide transportation, assist with ADL skills, and inspire consumers to be independent.
   • Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
   • Maintain a safe and supportive environment while learning proper case management and the importance of ISP's and BSP's.

   More direct support staff duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your direct support staff job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A direct support staff 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 support staff in Mississippi may be lower than in California, and an entry-level direct support staff usually earns less than a senior-level direct support staff. Additionally, a direct support staff 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 support staff salary

   $15.03hourly

   $31,268 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level direct support staff salary

   $18,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average direct support staff salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$45,664	$22
   2	Washington	$34,145	$16
   3	Massachusetts	$33,538	$16
   4	Maryland	$33,473	$16
   5	New York	$32,726	$16
   6	Oregon	$32,386	$16
   7	Connecticut	$32,375	$16
   8	Nevada	$31,178	$15
   9	Utah	$27,457	$13
   10	Minnesota	$27,051	$13
   11	Missouri	$26,227	$13
   12	Michigan	$24,556	$12

   Average direct support staff salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Rockwell Medical	$113,084	$54.37	3
   2	El Paso Electric	$95,225	$45.78
   3	Maxim Healthcare Group	$40,589	$19.51	146
   4	Horace Mann	$33,805	$16.25
   5	University of Michigan	$32,977	$15.85	17
   6	Community Living Alliance	$31,988	$15.38
   7	JESPY House	$31,559	$15.17	2
   8	The Arc of Opportunity in North Central Massachusetts	$31,034	$14.92	7
   9	Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family	$31,028	$14.92	841
   10	Advocates	$30,926	$14.87	79
   11	Pathlight	$30,880	$14.85	7
   12	GIL Foundation	$30,620	$14.72	12
   13	Non Profits	$30,603	$14.71	8
   14	Independent Living Resources	$30,490	$14.66	23
   15	Spectrum Comm	$30,438	$14.63	4
   16	The Progress	$30,207	$14.52
   17	National Mentor Holdings Inc.	$30,043	$14.44
   18	Advocates for Life Skills and Opportunity	$29,288	$14.08	7
   19	STEP, Strategies to Empower People	$29,243	$14.06	8
   20	Chrysalis	$29,171	$14.02	27

4. Writing a direct support staff job description

   A job description for a direct support staff role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a direct support staff job description:

   Direct support staff job description example

   Full Vaccination (including Booster) is an eligibility requirement for all positions unless in case of religious or medical exemption.
   
   Relief Staff work as Per Diem staff filling in for shifts on an as needed basis. Excellent opportunity for part time day work and to gain experience in the Human Services Field.
   
   As a Relief Staff you will assist Day Program staff members in implementing developmental skills training, and implementing occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language as well as clinical goals in a variety of settings. The Direct Support Professional supports participants across community-based programs by actively connecting and engaging individuals in the community.
   
   Relief staff in our Day Program are offered shifts as they become available and may fall during the following days & times: Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.
   Essential Functions:
   + Works closely with both Day Habilitation and Community Based Day and Employment Services staff members in delivering service standards of excellence and ensure operational compliance within assigned program in accordance with federal, state and agency regulations.
   + Provides transportation for individual on community activities
   + Assists individuals in the preparation of meals as appropriate their preferences, abilities, and interest and in accordance with dining guidelines.
   + Assists individual in resolving health and hygiene issues.
   + Performs safe lifts and transfers of individuals who use wheelchairs.
   + Actively advocates for individuals served and demonstrates agency mission and values in all interpersonal and professional relations.
   + Implements service plan goals and objectives.
   + Timely and accurate coding for services into electronic medical records system for billing purposes.
   + Attends mandatory trainings and meetings as assigned and required. Maintains all required certifications.
   Conducts oneself professionally, maintaining respect, following regulations and agency policies and adhering to confidentiality requirements in all assigned duties
   + Support participants to increase their independence while safely navigating the community.
   + Other duties as assigned.
   Qualifications
   + A Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record is required
   + Acceptable CORI is required at all times during employment with The Arc of Opportunity.
   + High school diploma or GED is required, experience in relevant field preferred.
   + Knowledgeable about community resources to better assist individuals served in achieving their goals while seeking to empower and enhance their quality of life.
   + Functional and situational reasoning to follow policy, problem solve, exercise sound judgment, prioritize multiple tasks, and crisis manage.
   + Cross functional communication skills, written and oral, which convey clear and concise information in a professional and respectful manner to individuals supported, family members/guardians, peers, government agencies, community partners and all employees throughout the organization.
   + Ability to lift up to 50lbs.
   + Physical demands include: Frequent standing, pushing, pulling, walking, stooping, lifting and twisting.
   + Ability to perform physical restraint if necessary.
   + Ability to transfer, change, shower assist with toileting and all personal care needs of the individuals supported.
   The Arc is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics.
   When an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply and/or interview for a job, they may request it orally or in writing through the VP of Human Resources.
   Competencies: Development Disabilities skills training, engaging individuals with disabilities, Assist, ISP, ADLs

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right direct support staff for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with direct support staff they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit direct support staff who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your direct support staff job on Zippia to find and recruit direct support staff 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 support staff, 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 to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   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 support staff

   Once you've found the direct support staff candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new direct support staff. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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How much does it cost to hire a direct support staff?