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Direct care aide salary
Average direct care aide salary
$14.63
Average Direct Care Aide Salary
The salary for Direct Care Aides varies based on several factors, including location, experience, and the specific sector within healthcare. As of October 2025, the average annual salary is $30,429, which translates to about $15 per hour. Many factors influence this figure, including the demand for care services in different regions.
Where Can a Direct Care Aide Earn More?
States like California, Washington, and New York often offer higher salaries for Direct Care Aides due to higher living costs and greater demand for healthcare services. In addition, positions in specialized settings, such as hospitals or home health care, tend to provide better pay than those in less specialized environments.
Job Opportunities and Growth
The demand for Direct Care Aides is expected to grow, presenting numerous job opportunities. Those interested in this field should consider furthering their education or certifications to enhance their employability and potential earnings.
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Where can a Direct Care Aide earn more?
Direct care aide salary estimates from across the web
Average direct care aide salary by state
The highest-paying states for direct care aides are Vermont, New Jersey, and Maryland. The lowest average direct care aide salary states are Kentucky, Arkansas, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for direct care aides
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $36,068 | $17.34 |
| 2 | Maine | $32,179 | $15.47 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $34,053 | $16.37 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $31,157 | $14.98 |
| 5 | Michigan | $29,491 | $14.18 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $29,425 | $14.15 |
| 7 | Vermont | $36,206 | $17.41 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $29,689 | $14.27 |
| 9 | Montana | $28,922 | $13.90 |
| 10 | Kansas | $30,014 | $14.43 |
| 11 | Oregon | $31,438 | $15.11 |
| 12 | Maryland | $34,121 | $16.40 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $27,621 | $13.28 |
| 14 | New York | $29,343 | $14.11 |
| 15 | Illinois | $28,533 | $13.72 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $32,746 | $15.74 |
| 17 | Iowa | $27,377 | $13.16 |
| 18 | Delaware | $27,709 | $13.32 |
| 19 | Washington | $31,247 | $15.02 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $30,604 | $14.71 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $29,376 | $14.12 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $28,159 | $13.54 |
| 23 | Ohio | $26,918 | $12.94 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $26,027 | $12.51 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $25,560 | $12.29 |
| 26 | Florida | $28,899 | $13.89 |
| 27 | Utah | $28,432 | $13.67 |
| 28 | Indiana | $25,817 | $12.41 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $24,363 | $11.71 |
| 30 | Alaska | $27,457 | $13.20 |
| 31 | California | $29,093 | $13.99 |
| 32 | Alabama | $25,819 | $12.41 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $24,792 | $11.92 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $29,204 | $14.04 |
| 35 | Arizona | $24,977 | $12.01 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $27,583 | $13.26 |
| 37 | Virginia | $26,640 | $12.81 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $24,205 | $11.64 |
| 39 | Missouri | $23,210 | $11.16 |
| 40 | Colorado | $26,171 | $12.58 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $22,586 | $10.86 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $22,876 | $11.00 |
| 43 | Georgia | $23,251 | $11.18 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $22,691 | $10.91 |
| 45 | Nevada | $23,533 | $11.31 |
| 46 | Idaho | $23,186 | $11.15 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $21,550 | $10.36 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $21,950 | $10.55 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $22,567 | $10.85 |
| 50 | Texas | $22,059 | $10.61 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $21,496 | $10.33 |
Highest paying cities for direct care aides
The highest-paying cities for direct care aides are Springfield, MA, New Haven, CT, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $32,783 | $15.76 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $31,386 | $15.09 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $31,062 | $14.93 |
| 5 | Garden City, MI | $29,402 | $14.14 |
| 6 | Elmira, NY | $29,218 | $14.05 |
| 7 | Gainesville, FL | $29,116 | $14.00 |
| 8 | Bristol, PA | $27,891 | $13.41 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $26,221 | $12.61 |
| 10 | Decatur, AL | $25,965 | $12.48 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $25,536 | $12.28 |
| 12 | Gainesville, GA | $23,335 | $11.22 |
| 13 | Cape Girardeau, MO | $22,941 | $11.03 |
Direct care aide salary details
A direct care aide's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a direct care aide's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| Average | $30,429 | $2,536 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying direct care aide jobs
The highest paying types of direct care aides are direct support specialist, direct care counselor, and direct support professional.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attending, Ambulatory Care | $29,626 | $2,469 | $14.24 | 169,412 |
| Direct Support Professional | $32,077 | $2,673 | $15.42 | 142,034 |
| Aide | $27,793 | $2,316 | $13.36 | 78,919 |
| Direct Support Staff | $31,268 | $2,606 | $15.03 | 182,001 |
| Child Care Attendant | $27,542 | $2,295 | $13.24 | 156,197 |
| Home Care Attendant | $26,059 | $2,172 | $12.53 | 235,912 |
Top companies hiring direct care aides now:
Which companies pay direct care aides the most?
Direct care aide salaries at Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs and Community Service Programs Inc are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average direct care aide salary at companies like Hackensack Meridian Health and Spectrum Health are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $40,428 | $19.44 |
| 2 | Community Service Programs Inc | $33,848 | $16.27 |
| 3 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $32,962 | $15.85 |
| 4 | Spectrum Health | $32,747 | $15.74 |
| 5 | Jackson Physician Search | $32,304 | $15.53 |
| 6 | Lifesteps | $32,299 | $15.53 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois Healthcare | $32,288 | $15.52 |
| 8 | National Lutheran Communities & Services | $32,170 | $15.47 |
| 9 | Immanuel | $32,005 | $15.39 |
| 10 | CVS Health | $31,993 | $15.38 |
| 11 | UnitedHealth Group | $31,935 | $15.35 |
| 12 | St. Luke's Health System | $31,924 | $15.35 |
| 13 | Yale New Haven Health | $31,848 | $15.31 |
| 14 | Huntsville Hospital | $31,124 | $14.96 |
| 15 | Cayuga Medical Center | $30,925 | $14.87 |
| 16 | The Evergreens | $30,839 | $14.83 |
| 17 | Wellstar Health System | $30,627 | $14.72 |
| 18 | W Holding Company | $30,424 | $14.63 |
| 19 | Dungarvin | $30,288 | $14.56 |
| 20 | Liberty HomeCare and Hospice | $30,234 | $14.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Direct Care Aide salary by industry
The average direct care aide salary varies across industries:
- The average direct care aide salary in the energy industry is $30,080, the highest of any industry.
- The average direct care aide salary in the finance industry is $29,696.
- Direct care aides in the media industry earn an average salary of $27,861, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for direct care aides
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $30,080 | $14.46 |
| 2 | Health Care | $29,696 | $14.28 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $29,679 | $14.27 |
| 4 | Professional | $28,706 | $13.80 |
| 5 | Government | $28,400 | $13.65 |
| 6 | Media | $27,861 | $13.39 |
High paying direct care aide jobs
Direct care aide salary trends
The average direct care aide salary has risen by $8,724 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average direct care aide earned $21,705 annually, but today, they earn $30,429 a year. That works out to a 26% change in pay for direct care aides over the last decade.
Compare direct care aide salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average direct care aide salary over time
Compare direct care aide salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Direct care aide salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $30,400 | $14.63 | +6.8% |
| 2025 | $28,400 | $13.64 | +6.9% |
| 2024 | $26,400 | $12.70 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $25,400 | $12.22 | +5.1% |
| 2022 | $24,100 | $11.59 | +4.3% |
Recently added direct care aide salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Madison Senior Living | Memory Care Aide P-6A | Kansas City, MO | 06/29/2025 | $38,610 |
| Arrow Senior Living | Memory Care Aide P-11P | North Royalton, OH | 06/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| South Texas College | Wellness Center Aide-Direct Wage | Rio Grande City, TX | 06/26/2025 | $32,349 |
| Viaquest | Direct Care Aide (DSP) | Mansfield, OH | 06/24/2025 | $36,523 |
| The Rehab Center at Bristol | Direct Care Aide PRN | Bristol, VA | 06/18/2025 | $33,392 |
| The Wellington Senior Living | Memory Care Aide P-11P Sun-Thurs | Liberty, MO | 06/18/2025 | $37,566 |
| Viaquest | Direct Care Aide (DSP) | Mansfield, OH | 05/28/2025 | $36,523 |
| Icare Elder Services LLC | Direct Care Aide Weekend Days | Gouldsboro, PA | 05/18/2025 | $31,305 |
| Elara Caring | Special Care Aide | Indianapolis, IN | 05/15/2025 | $34,436 |
| Ability Beyond Disability | Direct Care/Human Services-Hourly Incentives! | Waterbury, CT | 05/03/2025 | $39,653 |
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