How to hire a direct support worker

How to hire a direct support worker, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a direct support worker, 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 support worker 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of direct support workers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Direct Support Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Direct Support Worker	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.	$8-22
   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
   Provider	Health care providers are health professionals and health organizations offering health care treatment and diagnosis services. These professionals play significant roles with patients through consultation, treatment, and advice... Show more	$17-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Developmental Disabilities
   • CPR
   • Home Health
   • Direct Support
   • Community Integration
   • Money Management
   • Meal Preparation
   • Patients
   • Community Outings
   • ISP
   • Care Services
   • Motor Vehicle
   • Intellectual Disabilities
   • ADL

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Orient around ADL's and personal care: mobility/transfers, meal prep, exercise and maintenance.
   • Instruct, supervise, and assist with ADL's through daily routines and to carry out schedule activities and programs.
   • Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
   • Assist service recipients in daily living needs, compliant with HIPPA guidelines, complete documentation and records while maintain filing systems.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your direct support worker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A direct support worker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, direct support workers' average salary in arkansas is 38% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level direct support workers earn 63% less than senior-level direct support workers.
   • Certifications. A direct support worker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a direct support worker's salary.

   Average direct support worker salary

   $13.72hourly

   $28,538 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level direct support worker salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a direct support worker job description

   A direct support worker 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a direct support worker job description:

   Direct support worker job description example

   Direct Support Professional
   
   RHD's Community Choices is seeking caring and motivated staff to assist individuals with mental health and/or physical disabilities with learning job skills and/or activities of daily living in our residential support programs. The candidate will work in our Chester County locations. Also, must be motivated to work in a team environment. Competitive pay and benefits package. We are hiring for full-time, part-time, and on-call positions for our 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm, and 11pm-7am shifts.
   
   We are currently providing sign on bonuses of $1500 to be paid after successful completion of 90 days employment.
   
   Resources for Human Development is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, veteran, or disability status.
   
   Responsibilities/Duties
   
   Engage the participant according to established supervision levels and focus on targeted areas of recovery.
   
   Assist in the process of identifying, developing and implementing the Individual Recovery Service/Behavioral Plans.
   
   Implement the goals from the participant's recovery service plan and/or from therapist/consultant
   
   Assist the participants with day to day activities and implement social skills.
   
   Support participants to successfully integrate into the community, such as, teaching them transportation skills, connecting them to community activities and resources, and helping them identify gainful employment.
   
   Assist/teach self-medication administration for participants as prescribed (after completion of approved training-Quick Mar.
   
   Prepare, assist with preparing, or supervise menu planning and meal preparation as needed.
   
   Required Experience
   
   One year experience assisting individuals with mental health and/or physical disabilities is strongly recommended.Required Education
   
   High School diploma or GEDRequired Qualifications
   
   Valid Driver's License is required
   
   Clear criminal background and other background checks in accordance with state requirements
   
   Ability to pass and complete all required trainings
   
   Ability to convey, understand, and follow spoken and written instructions in English
   
   Program Summary
   
   Community Choices is one of RHD's programs under the Behavioral Health and Housing Service Line. This program located in Chester County, PA supports individuals with physical and mental health challenges in a residential setting.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right direct support worker for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit direct support workers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 worker

   Once you've found the direct support worker 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new direct support worker. 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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