What are the main factors that influence a Direct Support Assistant's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Direct Support Assistant's salary?

A Direct Support Assistant's salary grows with experience: a Behavioral Home Care Aide (0-0 years)earns $36,736, a Home Care Aide I (0-1 years)earns $33,155, a Direct Support Assistant (1-3 years)earns $39,808, a Home Care Aide III (3-5 years)earns $44,412, a Home Care Aide Coordinator (5+ years)earns $44,487,

What are the highest paying states for a Direct Support Assistant?

Direct Support Assistant salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Direct Support Assistant roles are District of Columbia $43,376, California $43,211, Massachusetts $42,635. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Direct Support Assistant roles make?

Salaries for Direct Support Assistant level roles vary by specialization: Direct Support Professionals: $176,228; Direct Support Staff: $39,176; Direct Support Worker: $38,264; Direct Support Aide: $38,175; Direct Support Paraprofessional: $37,595.

Direct Support Assistant Salary in Delaware

How much does a Direct Support Assistant make in Delaware?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Direct Support Assistant in Delaware is $39,764 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

However, a Direct Support Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $46,576
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,382 to $43,330
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,304

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Recruit with AI

AI Onboarding

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Direct Support Assistant Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,330	$3,611	$833	$21
Average	$39,764	$3,314	$765	$19
25th Percentile	$36,382	$3,032	$700	$17

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Direct Support Assistant Job Openings in Delaware

Signal Support Systems Specialist

Army National Guard - Wilmington, DE

Signal Support Systems Specialist

Army National Guard - Smyrna, DE

Signal Support Systems Specialist

Army National Guard - Newark, DE

Signal Support Systems Specialist

Army National Guard - Delaware City, DE

Search More Direct Support Assistant Jobs in Delaware

Key Factors That Influence Direct Support Assistant Salaries

A Direct Support Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Direct Support Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Support Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $36,736
Early Career (1-2 years): $33,155
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $39,808
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,412
Expert (over 8 years): $44,487

Levels	Salary
Behaviora... Level Direct Support Assistant	$36,736
Home Care... Level Direct Support Assistant	$33,155
Direct Su... Level Direct Support Assistant	$39,808
Home Care... Level Direct Support Assistant	$44,412
Home Care... Level Direct Support Assistant	$44,487

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Direct Support Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Direct Support Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $43,376.
California: $43,211.
Massachusetts: $42,635.

District of Columbia $43,376 California $43,211 Massachusetts $42,635 Washington $42,478 New Jersey $42,463 Alaska $42,408 Connecticut $41,867 New York $41,648

Hawaii $40,947 Rhode Island $40,618 Maryland $40,394 Minnesota $40,089 Colorado $39,971 Illinois $39,932 Oregon $39,783 Delaware $39,673

New Hampshire $39,605 Virginia $39,450 Pennsylvania $39,000 Nevada $38,772 North Dakota $38,698 Michigan $38,580 Wisconsin $38,537 Vermont $38,451

Texas $38,212 Maine $38,197 Arizona $38,173 Ohio $38,146 Georgia $37,785 Indiana $37,605 Wyoming $37,570 Utah $37,515

Iowa $37,491 Kansas $37,303 Louisiana $37,248 North Carolina $37,229 Missouri $37,221 Florida $37,068 Montana $36,986 Nebraska $36,908

Kentucky $36,865 South Carolina $36,708 Tennessee $36,610 Idaho $36,571 New Mexico $36,285 Oklahoma $36,222 Alabama $35,991 South Dakota $35,603

Arkansas $35,392 West Virginia $35,278 Mississippi $34,937

Top Paying Cities for Direct Support Assistants

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

Lincoln: $41,060
Little Creek: $40,680
Magnolia: $40,849

Lincoln, DE $41,060 Little Creek, DE $40,680 Magnolia, DE $40,849 Milford, DE $41,060 Marydel, DE $40,527 Millsboro, DE $41,060 Millville, DE $41,335 Milton, DE $41,060

Nassau, DE $41,060 Ocean View, DE $41,335 Rehoboth Beach, DE $41,335 Seaford, DE $40,629 Selbyville, DE $41,335 Smyrna, DE $40,480 Viola, DE $40,849 Woodside, DE $40,731

Bear, DE $40,183 Newark, DE $40,198 Claymont, DE $40,230 Delaware City, DE $40,198 Hockessin, DE $40,230 Kirkwood, DE $40,198 Middletown, DE $40,398 Montchanin, DE $40,230

New Castle, DE $40,230 Odessa, DE $40,453 Port Penn, DE $40,089 Rockland, DE $40,230 Saint Georges, DE $40,198 Townsend, DE $40,394 Winterthur, DE $40,230 Lewes, DE $41,060

Wilmington, DE $40,230 Dover, DE $40,661 Dover Afb, DE $40,755 Bethany Beach, DE $41,335 Bethel, DE $40,629 Bridgeville, DE $41,060 Camden Wyoming, DE $40,704 Cheswold, DE $40,567

Clayton, DE $40,465 Dagsboro, DE $41,335 Delmar, DE $40,629 Ellendale, DE $41,060 Felton, DE $41,060 Fenwick Island, DE $41,335 Frankford, DE $41,335 Frederica, DE $41,060

Georgetown, DE $41,060 Greenwood, DE $41,060 Harbeson, DE $41,060 Harrington, DE $41,060 Hartly, DE $40,445 Houston, DE $41,060 Kenton, DE $40,465 Laurel, DE $40,629

Yorklyn, DE $40,230

Direct Support Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Direct Support Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 18, 2021

$36,382

Average $39,764/year

$43,330

$3,032

Average $3,314/month

$3,611

$700

Average $765/week

$833

$17

Average $19/hour

$21

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$43,330	$3,611	$833	$21
Average	$39,764	$3,314	$765	$19
25th Percentile	$36,382	$3,032	$700	$17

Salaries of jobs related to Direct Support Assistant

Find Your Next Direct Support Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Direct Support Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In Delaware

Cost of Living in Delaware is

1.5% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about