Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Direct support staff salary
Average direct support staff salary
$15.03
Overview of Direct Support Staff Salaries
The role of Direct Support Staff is vital in providing assistance to individuals with disabilities. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is approximately $31,268 annually, translating to about $15 per hour. Compensation can vary significantly based on factors such as state, experience, and the industry in which one works.
Salary by State and Location
Different states offer varying salaries for Direct Support Staff. For instance, states with higher living costs tend to provide higher wages. Cities known for their support services may also offer more competitive pay. In addition, exploring job openings in different regions can help identify the best opportunities for salary growth.
Career Advancement Opportunities
For those seeking to enhance their earning potential, gaining additional qualifications or certifications can lead to higher-paying roles. Positions in specialized care or supervisory roles often command better salaries. Furthermore, understanding the local job market and networking within the industry can greatly assist in finding lucrative positions.
Conclusion
Overall, pursuing a career as a Direct Support Staff can be rewarding, both personally and financially. For those interested in making a difference, check out the job listings available to find the right fit.
Let Zippi find your next direct support staff job
Let Zippi find your next direct support staff job
Where can a Direct Support Staff earn more?
Average direct support staff salary by state
The average direct support staff salary in California, Hawaii, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average direct support staff salary states are Mississippi, Wyoming, and Georgia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for direct support staff
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $43,292 | $20.81 |
| 2 | Washington | $33,759 | $16.23 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $32,703 | $15.72 |
| 4 | Nevada | $31,358 | $15.08 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $33,042 | $15.89 |
| 6 | New York | $32,622 | $15.68 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $30,751 | $14.78 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $32,320 | $15.54 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $29,643 | $14.25 |
| 10 | Ohio | $31,655 | $15.22 |
| 11 | Oregon | $33,026 | $15.88 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $40,162 | $19.31 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $30,708 | $14.76 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $32,557 | $15.65 |
| 15 | Maryland | $33,546 | $16.13 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $28,779 | $13.84 |
| 17 | Alaska | $35,959 | $17.29 |
| 18 | South Dakota | $27,852 | $13.39 |
| 19 | Alabama | $27,974 | $13.45 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $29,166 | $14.02 |
| 21 | Vermont | $31,460 | $15.13 |
| 22 | Missouri | $26,053 | $12.53 |
| 23 | Delaware | $28,179 | $13.55 |
| 24 | Montana | $28,628 | $13.76 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $26,703 | $12.84 |
| 26 | Florida | $28,007 | $13.46 |
| 27 | Arizona | $28,821 | $13.86 |
| 28 | Texas | $28,334 | $13.62 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $25,720 | $12.37 |
| 30 | Michigan | $24,786 | $11.92 |
| 31 | Iowa | $25,860 | $12.43 |
| 32 | Maine | $25,257 | $12.14 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $25,714 | $12.36 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $24,900 | $11.97 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $26,941 | $12.95 |
| 36 | Colorado | $27,682 | $13.31 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $23,718 | $11.40 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $29,078 | $13.98 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $25,642 | $12.33 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $25,613 | $12.31 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $25,011 | $12.02 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $24,149 | $11.61 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $23,625 | $11.36 |
| 44 | Virginia | $27,455 | $13.20 |
| 45 | Kansas | $22,319 | $10.73 |
| 46 | Utah | $24,118 | $11.60 |
| 47 | Indiana | $22,820 | $10.97 |
| 48 | Georgia | $23,173 | $11.14 |
| 49 | Illinois | $22,906 | $11.01 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $23,543 | $11.32 |
| 51 | Idaho | $23,758 | $11.42 |
Highest paying cities for direct support staff
The highest-paying cities for direct support staff are Santa Maria, CA, Tacoma, WA, and Fall River, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Maria, CA | $45,664 | $21.95 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $34,145 | $16.42 |
| 3 | Fall River, MA | $33,538 | $16.12 |
| 4 | Laurel, MD | $33,473 | $16.09 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $32,726 | $15.73 |
| 6 | Gresham, OR | $32,386 | $15.57 |
| 7 | Windham, CT | $32,375 | $15.56 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $31,178 | $14.99 |
| 9 | Cedar City, UT | $27,457 | $13.20 |
| 10 | Saint Cloud, MN | $27,051 | $13.01 |
| 11 | Joplin, MO | $26,227 | $12.61 |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $24,556 | $11.81 |
Direct support staff salary details
A direct support staff's salary ranges from $18,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $53,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a direct support staff's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| Average | $31,268 | $2,606 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $18,000 | $1,500 | $9 |
Highest paying direct support staff jobs
The highest paying types of direct support staff are provider, community support specialist, and direct support specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attending, Ambulatory Care | $29,626 | $2,469 | $14.24 | 169,412 |
| Companion | $29,246 | $2,437 | $14.06 | 75,753 |
| Provider | $61,912 | $5,159 | $29.77 | 112,186 |
| Direct Care Provider | $29,470 | $2,456 | $14.17 | 117,168 |
| Support Worker | $37,039 | $3,087 | $17.81 | 112,754 |
| Direct Care Worker | $29,343 | $2,445 | $14.11 | 140,788 |
Top companies hiring direct support staff now:
Which companies pay direct support staff the most?
Direct support staff salaries at Rockwell Medical and El Paso Electric are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average direct support staff salary at companies like Maxim Healthcare Group and Horace Mann are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockwell Medical | $113,084 | $54.37 |
| 2 | El Paso Electric | $95,225 | $45.78 |
| 3 | Maxim Healthcare Group | $40,589 | $19.51 |
| 4 | Horace Mann | $33,805 | $16.25 |
| 5 | University of Michigan | $32,977 | $15.85 |
| 6 | Community Living Alliance | $31,988 | $15.38 |
| 7 | JESPY House | $31,559 | $15.17 |
| 8 | The Arc of Opportunity in North Central Massachusetts | $31,034 | $14.92 |
| 9 | Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family | $31,028 | $14.92 |
| 10 | Advocates | $30,926 | $14.87 |
| 11 | Pathlight | $30,880 | $14.85 |
| 12 | GIL Foundation | $30,620 | $14.72 |
| 13 | Non Profits | $30,603 | $14.71 |
| 14 | Independent Living Resources | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| 15 | Spectrum Comm | $30,438 | $14.63 |
| 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 |
| 19 | STEP, Strategies to Empower People | $29,243 | $14.06 |
| 20 | Chrysalis | $29,171 | $14.02 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Direct Support Staff salary by industry
The average direct support staff salary varies across industries:
- The average direct support staff salary in the professional industry is $30,215, the highest of any industry.
- The average direct support staff salary in the finance industry is $30,072.
- Direct support staff in the health care industry earn an average salary of $29,856, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for direct support staff
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $30,215 | $14.53 |
| 2 | Education | $30,072 | $14.46 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $29,886 | $14.37 |
| 4 | Health Care | $29,856 | $14.35 |
High paying direct support staff jobs
Direct support staff salary trends
The average direct support staff salary has risen by $8,964 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average direct support staff earned $22,304 annually, but today, they earn $31,268 a year. That works out to a 26% change in pay for direct support staff over the last decade.
Compare direct support staff salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average direct support staff salary over time
Compare direct support staff salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Direct support staff salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,300 | $15.03 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | $29,200 | $14.02 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | $27,200 | $13.05 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $26,100 | $12.55 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | $24,800 | $11.91 | +4.3% |
Recently added direct support staff salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methodist Home for Children | Direct Support Staff | Edenton, NC | 06/29/2025 | $31,200 |
| Advocates | Direct Support Staff-Developmental Services | Boston, MA | 06/25/2025 | $39,653 |
| ATC Healthcare | Direct Support Staff, DSS | Riverhead, NY | 06/25/2025 | $39,653 |
| Amergis | Direct Support Personnel (DSP) Needed for Behavioral Facility | Viera East, FL | 06/19/2025 | $39,653 |
| Amergis | Direct Support Personnel L | Melbourne, FL | 06/18/2025 | $39,653 |
| Amergis | Direct Support Personnel-Moretown VT | Moretown, VT | 06/18/2025 | $54,262 |
| Amergis | Direct Support Personnel-School | Rockford, IL | 06/14/2025 | $28,383 |
| Texas Health & Human Services Commission | Direct Support Profession III | Richmond, TX | 06/13/2025 | $43,798 |
| Kadop Health Care Services LLC Dba Always Best Care Madison | Direct Support Staff | Madison, WI | 06/09/2025 | $38,000 |
| Care Runners Home Care Services, Inc. | Direct Support Staff | Milledgeville, GA | 06/09/2025 | $31,305 |
Direct support staff salary FAQs
Search for direct support staff jobs