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Direct care worker salary
Average direct care worker salary
$14.11
Average Direct Care Worker Salary
The average salary for a Direct Care Worker in the United States is approximately $29,343 per year or about $14 per hour. Salary levels can fluctuate significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific field of care.
Salary Variation by State
In states like California and New York, salaries can reach upwards of $35,000 annually due to higher living costs and demand for care services. Conversely, states with lower demand may offer salaries closer to the national average.
Opportunities in Direct Care
Many Direct Care Workers find opportunities in various settings, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health services. Additionally, specialized roles within the industry, such as behavioral health technicians or personal support aides, can command higher salaries.
Conclusion
Understanding the salary landscape is crucial for those considering a career as a Direct Care Worker. By exploring average salaries, state variations, and potential job roles, you can make informed decisions about your career path in this essential field.
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Where can a Direct Care Worker earn more?
Direct care worker salary estimates from across the web
Average direct care worker salary by state
The average direct care worker salary in Washington, Hawaii, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average direct care worker salary states are Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for direct care workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $34,899 | $16.78 |
| 2 | Oregon | $32,835 | $15.79 |
| 3 | Maine | $33,187 | $15.96 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $31,477 | $15.13 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $30,795 | $14.81 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $28,584 | $13.74 |
| 7 | New York | $31,611 | $15.20 |
| 8 | California | $33,078 | $15.90 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $29,610 | $14.24 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $30,652 | $14.74 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $30,437 | $14.63 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $32,908 | $15.82 |
| 13 | Michigan | $28,677 | $13.79 |
| 14 | Alaska | $31,872 | $15.32 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $30,515 | $14.67 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $27,624 | $13.28 |
| 17 | Texas | $29,240 | $14.06 |
| 18 | Idaho | $27,528 | $13.23 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $28,300 | $13.61 |
| 20 | Vermont | $30,348 | $14.59 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $34,468 | $16.57 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $26,410 | $12.70 |
| 23 | Montana | $28,314 | $13.61 |
| 24 | Arizona | $27,667 | $13.30 |
| 25 | Colorado | $27,105 | $13.03 |
| 26 | Ohio | $26,627 | $12.80 |
| 27 | Illinois | $27,690 | $13.31 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $25,214 | $12.12 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $28,292 | $13.60 |
| 30 | Delaware | $25,547 | $12.28 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $23,924 | $11.50 |
| 32 | Alabama | $24,996 | $12.02 |
| 33 | Nevada | $26,417 | $12.70 |
| 34 | Missouri | $24,225 | $11.65 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $24,003 | $11.54 |
| 36 | Iowa | $25,450 | $12.24 |
| 37 | Utah | $25,437 | $12.23 |
| 38 | Maryland | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $23,258 | $11.18 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $22,736 | $10.93 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $26,993 | $12.98 |
| 42 | Indiana | $24,973 | $12.01 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $24,720 | $11.88 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $24,570 | $11.81 |
| 45 | Georgia | $22,368 | $10.75 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $21,138 | $10.16 |
| 47 | Virginia | $23,708 | $11.40 |
| 48 | Florida | $22,306 | $10.72 |
| 49 | Kansas | $23,272 | $11.19 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $20,974 | $10.08 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $22,034 | $10.59 |
Highest paying cities for direct care workers
The highest-paying cities for direct care workers are Portland, ME, Portland, OR, and Amherst, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, ME | $33,181 | $15.95 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $32,824 | $15.78 |
| 3 | Amherst, NY | $32,134 | $15.45 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | $30,824 | $14.82 |
| 5 | Pittsfield, MA | $30,619 | $14.72 |
| 6 | East Lansing, MI | $28,703 | $13.80 |
| 7 | Bethlehem, PA | $28,652 | $13.78 |
| 8 | Yuma, AZ | $28,261 | $13.59 |
| 9 | Springfield, OH | $26,061 | $12.53 |
| 10 | Clarksville, TN | $24,080 | $11.58 |
| 11 | Cape Girardeau, MO | $23,811 | $11.45 |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | $23,618 | $11.35 |
| 13 | Daytona Beach, FL | $22,264 | $10.70 |
Direct Care Workers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Direct care worker salary details
A direct care worker's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $36,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a direct care worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 75th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| Average | $29,343 | $2,445 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying direct care worker jobs
The highest paying types of direct care workers are provider, direct support specialist, and direct care counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aide | $27,793 | $2,316 | $13.36 | 78,919 |
| Provider | $61,912 | $5,159 | $29.77 | 112,186 |
| Attending, Ambulatory Care | $29,626 | $2,469 | $14.24 | 169,412 |
| Home Care Attendant | $26,059 | $2,172 | $12.53 | 235,912 |
| Direct Support Professional | $32,077 | $2,673 | $15.42 | 142,034 |
| Direct Support Staff | $31,268 | $2,606 | $15.03 | 182,001 |
Top companies hiring direct care workers now:
Which companies pay direct care workers the most?
Direct care worker salaries at Arizona Training & Evaluation Center and Community Resources for Justice are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average direct care worker salary at companies like Siouxland Community Health Center and Developmental Disabilities Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona Training & Evaluation Center | $34,377 | $16.53 |
| 2 | Community Resources for Justice | $34,151 | $16.42 |
| 3 | Siouxland Community Health Center | $33,338 | $16.03 |
| 4 | Developmental Disabilities Center | $33,146 | $15.94 |
| 5 | Spectrum Health | $32,759 | $15.75 |
| 6 | Lifesteps | $32,485 | $15.62 |
| 7 | Charter Schools USA | $32,086 | $15.43 |
| 8 | Pathways of Pennsylvania | $32,068 | $15.42 |
| 9 | The Center for Health Care Services | $31,513 | $15.15 |
| 10 | Trudeau Memorial Center | $31,287 | $15.04 |
| 11 | Rainbow Rehabilitation Centers | $31,060 | $14.93 |
| 12 | Open Systems Healthcare | $31,012 | $14.91 |
| 13 | Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family | $30,923 | $14.87 |
| 14 | National Council on Aging | $30,592 | $14.71 |
| 15 | The House of the Good Shepherd | $30,479 | $14.65 |
| 16 | FSL | $30,350 | $14.59 |
| 17 | Verland Foundation | $30,311 | $14.57 |
| 18 | Supportive Concepts for Families | $30,257 | $14.55 |
| 19 | The GEO Group | $30,113 | $14.48 |
| 20 | Macomb Residential Opportunity | $30,107 | $14.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Direct Care Worker salary by industry
The average direct care worker salary varies across industries:
- The average direct care worker salary in the professional industry is $29,581, the highest of any industry.
- The average direct care worker salary in the finance industry is $29,449.
- Direct care workers in the government industry earn an average salary of $28,240, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for direct care workers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $29,581 | $14.22 |
| 2 | Health Care | $29,449 | $14.16 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $29,272 | $14.07 |
| 4 | Insurance | $28,846 | $13.87 |
| 5 | Finance | $28,501 | $13.70 |
| 6 | Government | $28,240 | $13.58 |
High paying direct care worker jobs
Direct care worker salary trends
The average direct care worker salary has risen by $8,412 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average direct care worker earned $20,931 annually, but today, they earn $29,343 a year. That works out to a 26% change in pay for direct care workers over the last decade.
Compare direct care worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average direct care worker salary over time
Compare direct care worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Direct care worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,300 | $14.11 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | $27,400 | $13.15 | +6.9% |
| 2023 | $25,500 | $12.25 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $24,500 | $11.78 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | $23,300 | $11.18 | +4.3% |
Recently added direct care worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access: Supports for Living | Self-Directed Respite Worker | Middletown, NY | 06/29/2025 | $34,436 |
| Care of Southeastern Michigan | Direct Care Worker-Substance USE Center | Sterling Heights, MI | 06/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| Aveanna Healthcare | Direct Care Worker | Philadelphia, PA | 06/28/2025 | $25,044 |
| Dakota Boys & Girls Ranch | Residential Treatment Specialist/Direct Care Worker | Bismarck, ND | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| City of New York | Direct Care Worker | New York, NY | 06/21/2025 | $49,657 |
| Change | Direct Care Worker | New Haven, CT | 06/21/2025 | $34,436 |
| Your Calling Is Calling-Bayada | Direct Care Worker/Direct Support Professional | Lilly, PA | 06/21/2025 | $36,523 |
| Careone Senior Care | Direct Care Worker | Wyandotte, MI | 06/20/2025 | $29,218 |
| New York City, Ny | Direct Care Worker | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $49,657 |
| Bayada Home Health Care | Direct Care Worker/Direct Support Professional | Lilly, PA | 06/19/2025 | $36,523 |
Direct care worker salary FAQs
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