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Direct care staffer salary

Average direct care staffer salary

$14.65

$30,480 yearly

Entry-level direct care staffer salary
$19,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Direct Care Staffer Salary

The average salary for a direct care staffer is approximately $30,480 per year, or about $15 per hour. This figure reflects the pay rate for entry-level positions, with potential for increases based on experience and additional responsibilities. Those in this role typically provide support to individuals with disabilities, assisting with daily living activities and promoting independence.

Factors Affecting Salary

Several factors can influence a direct care staffer's earnings:

  • Experience: More experienced staffers often command higher salaries.
  • Location: Wages can vary significantly by state, with higher rates found in urban areas.
  • Industry: Positions in healthcare facilities or specialized care settings may offer better compensation.

Opportunities for Advancement

As direct care staffers gain experience, they can explore advanced roles, such as supervisory positions or specialized care roles, which often come with increased salaries and responsibilities. Investing in further education or certifications can also enhance earning potential.

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Where can a Direct Care Staffer earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
54k
34k
14k
-6k
Columbus, OH$37,109
Columbia, SC$24,044
Compare salary by company
Vs
81k
61k
41k
21k
645
New York University$61,953
Riverstone Holdings$30,645

Direct care staffer salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Ziprecruiter and Comparably, the average salary for a direct care staffer typically falls between $25,732 and $82,194.
zippia
$30,480yearly
comparably[1]
$82,194yearly
ZipRecruiter[2]
$25,732yearly

Average direct care staffer salary by state

The highest-paying states for direct care staffers are Oregon, New York, and Washington. The lowest average direct care staffer salary states are Indiana, Arkansas, and Florida.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for direct care staffers

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1New York$35,326$16.98
2Maine$33,898$16.30
3Oregon$36,973$17.78
4North Dakota$30,768$14.79
5Massachusetts$31,787$15.28
6Wisconsin$29,317$14.09
7New Jersey$34,677$16.67
8Washington$35,112$16.88
9Rhode Island$30,382$14.61
10West Virginia$27,990$13.46
11New Hampshire$31,021$14.91
12Pennsylvania$28,821$13.86
13Vermont$31,182$14.99
14Arizona$29,022$13.95
15Texas$30,806$14.81
16California$33,607$16.16
17Montana$27,614$13.28
18Connecticut$32,285$15.52
19Minnesota$27,195$13.07
20North Carolina$27,420$13.18
21Michigan$26,486$12.73
22South Dakota$27,166$13.06
23Ohio$26,547$12.76
24Alaska$31,898$15.34
25Iowa$25,988$12.49
26Delaware$26,841$12.90
27Nevada$27,132$13.04
28Hawaii$32,931$15.83
29Idaho$27,617$13.28
30Tennessee$27,474$13.21
31Illinois$26,745$12.86
32Nebraska$25,782$12.40
33New Mexico$26,104$12.55
34Alabama$25,941$12.47
35Kentucky$25,101$12.07
36Missouri$24,571$11.81
37Colorado$27,080$13.02
38Wyoming$24,448$11.75
39Maryland$25,289$12.16
40Utah$26,125$12.56
41District of Columbia$27,784$13.36
42South Carolina$23,996$11.54
43Kansas$23,533$11.31
44Mississippi$21,872$10.52
45Virginia$24,523$11.79
46Georgia$23,141$11.13
47Louisiana$22,269$10.71
48Oklahoma$22,018$10.59
49Indiana$23,000$11.06
50Arkansas$22,794$10.96
51Florida$22,322$10.73

Highest paying cities for direct care staffers

The highest-paying cities for direct care staffers are Salem, OR, Vacaville, CA, and New York, NY.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Salem, OR$37,109$17.84
2Vacaville, CA$36,326$17.46
3New York, NY$35,388$17.01
4New Britain, CT$32,311$15.53
5Springfield, MA$32,109$15.44
6San Antonio, TX$31,513$15.15
7Phoenix, AZ$29,036$13.96
8Reading, PA$28,960$13.92
9Cary, NC$27,562$13.25
10Saint Cloud, MN$27,474$13.21
11Franklin, TN$27,468$13.21
12Pocatello, ID$26,844$12.91
13Las Vegas, NV$26,833$12.90
14Salt Lake City, UT$26,094$12.55
15Columbus, OH$25,963$12.48
16Des Moines, IA$25,882$12.44
17Tuscaloosa, AL$25,878$12.44
18Baltimore, MD$25,505$12.26
19Springfield, MO$24,496$11.78
20Columbia, SC$24,044$11.56

Direct Care Staffers are the most in-demand in these five cities:

  1. Salem, OR
  2. Vacaville, CA
  3. New York, NY
  4. New Britain, CT
  5. Springfield, MA

Direct care staffer salary details

A direct care staffer's salary ranges from $19,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $47,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average direct care staffer salary graph
Average direct care staffer salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a direct care staffer's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$47,000$3,917$23
75th Percentile$38,000$3,167$18
Average$30,480$2,540$15
25th Percentile$24,000$2,000$12
10th Percentile$19,000$1,583$9

Highest paying direct care staffer jobs

The highest paying types of direct care staffers are provider, direct support specialist, and residential counselor.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Provider$61,912$5,159$29.77112,186
Residential Counselor$34,117$2,843$16.4081,287
Attending, Ambulatory Care$29,626$2,469$14.24169,412
Care Provider$29,652$2,471$14.26169,562
Personal Care Worker$29,490$2,458$14.18129,522
Child Care Attendant$27,542$2,295$13.24156,197

Which companies pay direct care staffers the most?

Direct care staffer salaries at New York University and Organogenesis are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average direct care staffer salary at companies like Central Lakes College and Ohio's Hospice of Dayton are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1New York University$61,953$29.79
2Organogenesis$44,342$21.32
3Central Lakes College$40,618$19.53
4Ohio's Hospice of Dayton$36,358$17.48
5Community Health Connections$35,961$17.29
6Dignity Health$34,958$16.81
7Thales Academy$34,616$16.64
8Lifesteps$33,425$16.07
9Maryland School for the Blind$33,255$15.99
10Novant Health$33,211$15.97
11Centene$32,824$15.78
12Health First$32,736$15.74
13Clearview Local School District$32,523$15.64
14Lincoln Financial Group$32,256$15.51
15Spectrum Health$31,291$15.04
16The Center for Health Care Services$31,174$14.99
17Freedom Health$31,132$14.97
18Colfax Corporation$30,995$14.90
19Conemaugh Health System$30,731$14.77
20Riverstone Holdings$30,645$14.73

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$32,000$31,800$31,600$31,400$31,200$31,000
MaleFemale

Direct Care Staffer salary by industry

The average direct care staffer salary varies across industries:

  • The average direct care staffer salary in the manufacturing industry is $30,329, the highest of any industry.
  • The average direct care staffer salary in the finance industry is $29,064.
  • Direct care staffers in the government industry earn an average salary of $27,949, the lowest of any industry.

Highest paying industries for direct care staffers

RankIndustryAverage salaryHourly rate
1Manufacturing$30,329$14.58
2Health Care$29,064$13.97
3Professional$28,830$13.86
4Non Profits$28,341$13.63
5Retail$28,107$13.51
6Finance$28,021$13.47
7Government$27,949$13.44

High paying direct care staffer jobs

Direct care staffer salary trends

The average direct care staffer salary has risen by $8,738 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average direct care staffer earned $21,742 annually, but today, they earn $30,480 a year. That works out to a 26% change in pay for direct care staffers over the last decade.

Compare direct care staffer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average direct care staffer salary over time

Compare direct care staffer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Direct care staffer salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$30,500$14.65+6.8%
2025$28,400$13.66+6.9%
2024$26,500$12.73+3.8%
2023$25,500$12.24+5.1%
2022$24,200$11.61+4.3%

Recently added direct care staffer salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Ccarc Inc.Direct Care Hours Every Other Weekend ANew Britain, CT06/29/2025$38,526
North Suffolk Community Services, Inc.Direct Care StaffRevere, MA06/29/2025$41,740
ChrysalisResidential Direct Care StaffLas Vegas, NV06/27/2025$29,218
Brightspring Health ServicesDirect Care StaffSan Marcos, TX06/27/2025$33,392
Liberty Hill ISDPanther Extended Care, StaffLiberty Hill, TX06/26/2025$32,349
ChrysalisDirect Care StaffSaint George, UT06/26/2025$31,305
Christ Chapel Bible ChurchKids Care StaffFort Worth, TX06/24/2025$29,218
Palatine Park DistrictCare Program StaffPalatine, IL06/24/2025$33,392
Sunshine StudiosDirect Care Specialists Needed (Youth Group Homes)Glendale, AZ06/20/2025$39,653
Signature HealthcareActivities Staff, Memory Care Unit 3P-11PTerre Haute, IN06/19/2025$41,740

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