Salary guides / DSP
DSP salary guide
What we see Direct Support Professional roles advertised at across the US, and what actually moves the number.
- Advertised range
- $17/hr – $24/hr
- Live roles
- None open today
- Basis
- Roles we recruit, US
How much does a DSP earn in the US?
By experience
- Entry
- $17/hr
- First role after certification
- Mid-career
- $20/hr
- Two to five years, full caseload
- Senior
- $24/hr
- Supervisory scope or specialist skill
What moves the number
- Setting: center-based, in-home, school and telehealth all price differently for the same credential
- Caseload size and supervision responsibility
- State and metro cost of living, and how scarce the credential is locally
- Payer mix and billable expectation, which decide how achievable any bonus really is
- Bilingual capability and specialist skills such as feeding, AAC or severe behavior
DSP pay questions
- How much does a DSP make?
- Across the Direct Support Professional roles we currently recruit in the US, advertised pay runs at roughly $17/hr – $24/hr, with $20/hr typical mid-career. That is what employers are publishing on live vacancies, not a survey average.
- What is a good starting salary for a DSP?
- First roles after certification are advertised from about $17/hr. Treat anything below that as a signal to ask why: it usually means a heavier caseload, unpaid drive time, or a productivity target that makes the headline figure hard to reach.
- Does DSP pay vary by state?
- Yes. Where the US Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes figures for DSP work in a state, the state guide leads with that official median and range. Alongside it we show the advertised pay on roles we recruit, plus licensure, setting mix and local market conditions.
Read the whole package
Base pay is only part of it. Before comparing two offers, get the caseload cap, the billable or productivity target, PTO, CEU allowance, supervision provided, drive time and mileage policy, and how cancellations affect pay. A lower base with a sane caseload routinely beats a higher one without.
Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Last reviewed August 2026.
Live DSP roles
No live DSP roles today. Join the talent network and we will contact you when one opens in your state.
Roles open now across the US
Remote LCSW Jobs, Texas - Trauma-Informed Telehealth, W-2, 4-Day Week Option
Fully remote LCSW role serving adult patients in Texas, paying a guaranteed $82,000 - $98,000 a year on W-2, 40 hours a week with a four- or five-day pattern available. The target is 24 completed sessions a week with protected administrative time and dedicated scheduling support, delivering trauma-informed therapy. Take a Seat People recruits this role directly with the employer and discusses it with you confidentially.
- Employer
- Confidential LCSW provider — Remote, TX
- Location
- Remote, TX · Remote
- Advertised pay
- $82,000 - $98,000
- Contract
- full time · LCSW
Full detailsTakes about a minute · No CV needed
Remote LCSW Jobs, Florida - Outpatient Telehealth, W-2, 25 Sessions Weekly
Fully remote LCSW role serving adult patients in Florida, paying a guaranteed $80,000 - $95,000 a year on W-2, 40 hours a week on an agreed weekday schedule. The target is 25 completed sessions a week with protected documentation time, and scheduling, billing and credentialing are handled for you. Take a Seat People recruits this role directly with the employer and discusses it with you confidentially.
- Employer
- Confidential LCSW provider — Remote, FL
- Location
- Remote, FL · Remote
- Advertised pay
- $80,000 - $95,000
- Contract
- full time · LCSW
Full detailsTakes about a minute · No CV needed
BCaBA Jobs in Richmond, VA - Clinic-Based ABA, Mon-Fri, Funded BCBA Supervision
BCaBA role in Richmond, Virginia, paying $65,000 - $77,000 a year in clinic-based ABA with planned caregiver collaboration, Monday to Friday, 40 hours a week with no required weekends. You will support children with autism under paid ongoing BCBA supervision, with paid documentation and meeting time and a $1,250 continuing education allowance. Take a Seat People recruits this role directly with the employer and discusses it with you confidentially.
- Employer
- Confidential BCaBA provider — Richmond, VA
- Location
- Richmond, VA
- Advertised pay
- $65,000 - $77,000
- Contract
- full time · BCaBA
Full detailsTakes about a minute · No CV needed
BCaBA Jobs in Charlotte, NC - Pediatric Clinic, Mon-Fri, Funded BCBA Supervision
BCaBA role in Charlotte, North Carolina, paying $62,000 - $74,000 a year in a pediatric ABA clinic, Monday to Friday, 40 hours a week with no required weekends. You will support children with autism under employer-funded BCBA supervision, with paid time for documentation and supervision and a structured introduction to your clients and team. Take a Seat People recruits this role directly with the employer and discusses it with you confidentially.
- Employer
- Confidential BCaBA provider — Charlotte, NC
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Advertised pay
- $62,000 - $74,000
- Contract
- full time · BCaBA
Full detailsTakes about a minute · No CV needed
BCaBA Jobs in Atlanta, GA - Center-Based Pediatric ABA, Mon-Fri, Funded BCBA Supervision
BCaBA role in Atlanta, Georgia, paying $63,000 - $75,000 a year in a center-based pediatric ABA clinic, Monday to Friday, 40 hours a week with no required weekends and no routine travel between client homes. You will support children with autism under employer-paid BCBA supervision, with paid documentation, supervision and team meeting time. Take a Seat People recruits this role directly with the employer and discusses it with you confidentially.
- Employer
- Confidential BCaBA provider — Atlanta, GA
- Location
- Atlanta, GA
- Advertised pay
- $63,000 - $75,000
- Contract
- full time · BCaBA
Full detailsTakes about a minute · No CV needed