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Support worker salary
Average support worker salary
$37,039
Understanding Support Worker Salaries
The role of a support worker is vital in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and community services. As of October 2025, the average salary for a support worker is $37,039 annually, or around $18 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on geographic location, with states like California and New York offering higher compensation due to increased demand and living costs.
Experience also plays a crucial role in determining salary. Entry-level support workers typically earn less than those with several years of experience. For instance, a support worker with 5-10 years of experience can expect to earn significantly more, reflecting their specialized skills and knowledge.
Additionally, various sectors may offer different pay scales. For example, support workers in healthcare settings often earn higher salaries compared to those in community services. Resources like Zippia provide detailed salary breakdowns, helping job seekers navigate their options more effectively.
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Where can a Support Worker earn more?
Support worker salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level support worker | $27,000 | $12.97 |
| Mid-level support worker | $31,100 | $14.95 |
| Senior-level support worker | $45,100 | $21.68 |
Support worker salary estimates from across the web
Average support worker salary by state
The average support worker salary in New York, Texas, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average support worker salary states are Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for support workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $44,671 | $21.48 |
| 2 | New York | $46,158 | $22.19 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $38,408 | $18.47 |
| 4 | Texas | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $35,284 | $16.96 |
| 6 | Louisiana | $37,185 | $17.88 |
| 7 | Florida | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| 8 | Virginia | $40,849 | $19.64 |
| 9 | Missouri | $35,092 | $16.87 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $41,414 | $19.91 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | $34,952 | $16.80 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $37,255 | $17.91 |
| 13 | Delaware | $37,923 | $18.23 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $37,459 | $18.01 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $33,965 | $16.33 |
| 16 | Arizona | $40,118 | $19.29 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $44,868 | $21.57 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $33,191 | $15.96 |
| 19 | Alabama | $33,674 | $16.19 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $38,932 | $18.72 |
| 21 | Maryland | $40,039 | $19.25 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $34,603 | $16.64 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| 24 | Washington | $32,122 | $15.44 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $33,042 | $15.89 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $38,515 | $18.52 |
| 27 | Colorado | $33,785 | $16.24 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $33,114 | $15.92 |
| 29 | Illinois | $33,200 | $15.96 |
| 30 | Iowa | $33,435 | $16.07 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $32,850 | $15.79 |
| 32 | Utah | $31,632 | $15.21 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $30,587 | $14.71 |
| 34 | Alaska | $34,536 | $16.60 |
| 35 | Nevada | $31,205 | $15.00 |
| 36 | Georgia | $30,526 | $14.68 |
| 37 | Michigan | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| 38 | Ohio | $32,367 | $15.56 |
| 39 | Idaho | $29,629 | $14.24 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $28,798 | $13.85 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $29,439 | $14.15 |
| 42 | Oregon | $29,715 | $14.29 |
| 43 | Maine | $28,250 | $13.58 |
| 44 | Kansas | $29,048 | $13.97 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $26,020 | $12.51 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $27,550 | $13.25 |
| 47 | Indiana | $28,423 | $13.66 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $28,244 | $13.58 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $26,322 | $12.65 |
| 50 | Montana | $26,475 | $12.73 |
| 51 | Vermont | $27,700 | $13.32 |
Highest paying cities for support workers
The highest-paying cities for support workers are New York, NY, San Antonio, TX, and Los Angeles, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $46,569 | $22.39 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $46,084 | $22.16 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $45,499 | $21.87 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $44,890 | $21.58 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,093 | $19.28 |
| 6 | Harrisonburg, VA | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| 7 | Tallahassee, FL | $39,326 | $18.91 |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ | $39,067 | $18.78 |
| 9 | Holyoke, MA | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $37,974 | $18.26 |
| 11 | Kenosha, WI | $34,754 | $16.71 |
| 12 | Greenville, NC | $33,724 | $16.21 |
| 13 | Greeley, CO | $33,616 | $16.16 |
| 14 | Des Moines, IA | $33,413 | $16.06 |
| 15 | Lincoln, NE | $33,243 | $15.98 |
| 16 | New Britain, CT | $32,685 | $15.71 |
| 17 | Findlay, OH | $32,049 | $15.41 |
| 18 | Salt Lake City, UT | $31,318 | $15.06 |
| 19 | Macon, GA | $30,611 | $14.72 |
| 20 | Eugene, OR | $30,117 | $14.48 |
Support worker salary details
A support worker's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $60,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a support worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $37,039 | $3,087 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying support worker jobs
The highest paying types of support workers are support supervisor, case worker, and student support counselor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Support Staff | $31,268 | $2,606 | $15.03 | 182,001 |
| Direct Support Professional | $32,077 | $2,673 | $15.42 | 142,034 |
| Student Support Counselor | $41,329 | $3,444 | $19.87 | 134,839 |
| Support Services Coordinator | $39,440 | $3,287 | $18.96 | 165,302 |
| Case Worker | $41,459 | $3,455 | $19.93 | 107,329 |
| Direct Care Worker | $29,343 | $2,445 | $14.11 | 140,788 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for support workers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Jennifer Kukis
Professor/Coordinate, Lorain County Community College
https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/social-worker/salary/ohio/
In Ohio, Starting level social worker earnings begin at:
$15.23
per hour
$31,670
per year with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, and around $13.00 for a Social Work Assistant with a two year degree in Human Services.
Top companies hiring support workers now:
Which companies pay support workers the most?
Support worker salaries at Dolby Laboratories and New Jersey Institute of Technology are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average support worker salary at companies like Arcimoto and Columbia University in the City of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dolby Laboratories | $68,989 | $33.17 |
| 2 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $54,527 | $26.21 |
| 3 | Arcimoto | $54,293 | $26.10 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $52,352 | $25.17 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley | $48,544 | $23.34 |
| 6 | Cooper Tire & Rubber | $47,136 | $22.66 |
| 7 | Sierra Nevada | $46,204 | $22.21 |
| 8 | Messiah College | $45,136 | $21.70 |
| 9 | UC Santa Barbara | $43,818 | $21.07 |
| 10 | Suburban Propane | $43,583 | $20.95 |
| 11 | Little Flower Catholic Church and School | $43,086 | $20.71 |
| 12 | INX International Ink Co. | $42,648 | $20.50 |
| 13 | Catholic Medical Center | $40,785 | $19.61 |
| 14 | Westcare Health Corporation | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| 15 | Penquis Community Action Progr | $39,878 | $19.17 |
| 16 | Saint Francis Community Services Inc | $39,702 | $19.09 |
| 17 | Apis | $39,436 | $18.96 |
| 18 | National Beverage | $39,153 | $18.82 |
| 19 | Practice Builders | $38,323 | $18.42 |
| 20 | Nilfisk-advance Us | $38,022 | $18.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Support Worker salary by industry
The average support worker salary varies across industries:
- The average support worker salary in the manufacturing industry is $42,658, the highest of any industry.
- The average support worker salary in the finance industry is $34,104.
- Support workers in the health care industry earn an average salary of $31,666, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for support workers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $42,658 | $20.51 |
| 2 | Professional | $34,104 | $16.40 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $32,424 | $15.59 |
| 4 | Health Care | $31,666 | $15.22 |
High paying support worker jobs
Support worker salary trends
The average support worker salary has risen by $6,109 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average support worker earned $30,930 annually, but today, they earn $37,039 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for support workers over the last decade.
Compare support worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average support worker salary over time
Compare support worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Support worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,000 | $17.81 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $35,900 | $17.25 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $35,400 | $17.00 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $34,900 | $16.77 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $34,400 | $16.56 | +3.1% |
Recently added support worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream Nonprofit Solutions | Support Worker | Main, PA | 06/30/2025 | $37,357 |
| MBI | Residential Support Worker | Ione, WA | 06/29/2025 | $36,523 |
| Low Income Housing Institute | Building Support Worker | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $46,018 |
| Mainstream Nonprofit Solutions | Support Worker | Joplin, MO | 06/28/2025 | $37,357 |
| Bernco | Certified Peer Support Worker Incentive | Albuquerque, NM | 06/28/2025 | $46,436 |
| Open Door Mission | Day Men's Support Worker | Omaha, NE | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Bernalillo County, Nm | Certified Peer Support Worker Incentive | Albuquerque, NM | 06/27/2025 | $46,436 |
| Aramark Corp | IT Administrative Support Worker-Ford Amphitheater | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aramark | Administrative Support Worker-Howell Township Public Schools | Farmingdale, NJ | 06/26/2025 | $39,653 |
| Aerotek | Production Support Worker | Indianapolis, IN | 06/25/2025 | $35,360 |
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