How Much Does a Direct Support Professional Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$35,800
Direct support professionals in the U.S. earn a median of $35,800 a year, or $17.21 an hour. Half of direct support professionals earn more than $35,800 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $45,040.
Pay percentiles for direct support professionals
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $13.00 | $27,040 |
| 25th | $15.35 | $31,920 |
| 50th (median) | $17.21 | $35,800 |
| 75th | $18.98 | $39,470 |
| 90th | $21.65 | $45,040 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Home Health and Personal Care Aides (SOC 31-1120). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for direct support professionals
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47,730 | $22.95 | +33% |
| Oregon | $44,410 | $21.35 | +24% |
| Rhode Island | $43,680 | $21.00 | +22% |
| District of Columbia | $42,700 | $20.53 | +19% |
| Vermont | $41,600 | $20.00 | +16% |
| Massachusetts | $40,910 | $19.67 | +14% |
| Alaska | $39,740 | $19.11 | +11% |
| New York | $39,620 | $19.05 | +11% |
| North Dakota | $39,440 | $18.96 | +10% |
| Connecticut | $38,990 | $18.75 | +9% |
| United States | $35,800 | $17.21 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many direct support professionals are there?
BLS counts about 4,305,810 direct support professionals employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Home Health and Personal Care Aides”. The most jobs are in California (970,150), New York (663,140) and Texas (329,590).
The mean (average) annual wage is $36,120, higher than the median of $35,800.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $2,983
- Biweekly
- $1,377
- Weekly
- $688
- Daily (8 hours)
- $138
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do direct support professionals make an hour?
The median hourly wage for direct support professionals is $17.21. The middle 50% earn between $15.35 and $18.98 an hour.
Which state pays direct support professionals the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for direct support professionals at $47,730, +33% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for direct support professionals?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of direct support professionals earn less than $27,040 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.