Direct Support Professionals at The Arc went from making $9.88 per hour in 2017 to $20.00+ per hour in 2024.
Direct Support Professionals, or DSPs, are the backbone of The Arc’s services. They provide the individualized and tailored support that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) need to live, work, and connect with their community. As DSPs support people to volunteer, connect with friends, manage daily living, and build their skills toward future employment, DSPs make mission-critical decisions every day that enrich the lives of the people they support and maintain The Arc’s reputation for innovative, high-quality services.
“When I began at The Arc in 2017, DSPs were making $9.88 per hour,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO. “It did not nearly reflect the importance of the work they do or the value they provide to the people they support, our organization, or the community. It has been my constant mission to increase wages for DSPs, and I am grateful to have had support from the board of directors and leadership every step of the way.”
Since 2017, The Arc’s leadership has prioritized annual pay increases for DSPs. The most recent raise brought starting wages from $9.88 per hour to $20.00 per hour, officially doubling starting wages over the last seven years.
“I took a pay cut to come here. But I was willing to do that because of what I had heard about The Arc and that there was more opportunity here,” said Amber Banos, Community Coach. “And in the two years I’ve worked here I’ve had four pay raises. I love what I do, and I’m happy here.”
In addition to investing in regular wage increases for DSPs, Jonathon and The Arc’s leadership have advocated alongside the community to ensure increases in funding for home- and community-based service providers are reflected in the governor’s annual budget.
Investing in DSPs is about more than just an annual wage increase.
This recent wage increase comes after two additional pay increase incentives and initiatives for DSPs within the last 12 months: Weekend shift differentials for DSPs who work on weekends and the DSP Career Ladder program which offers pay increases aligned with professional development certifications.
“We have many DSPs who take advantage of our weekend differential rates and career ladder program, which allow for even greater wage mobility,” said Jonathon. “Officially doubling wages in seven years is an incredible accomplishment, but the other half of this story is how we invest in our employees – everything from their health and professional development to ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to do their work. Being a DSP is a career, and we want people to have the support they need to grow here.”
Working as a DSP is a long-term career with room for growth and advancement. The newly launched DSP Career ladder is one opportunity that provides professional development opportunities for DSPs to grow in their careers and earn more without having to leave the work they love.
The effects of consistent, thoughtful investment in our employees is reflected in everything from The Arc’s recent Employee Satisfaction Survey to our vacancy rate. While national vacancy rates for DSP positions are still hovering around 44% (with Maryland averaging 26%), The Arc has maintained a vacancy rate of 10% or less over the last 12 months.
Work with us
Competitive pay is just one of the ways The Arc invests in employees while attracting and retaining top talent. As a result, DSPs are more likely to stay with The Arc long-term, reducing turnover and ensuring quality care for the people we support. If you’d like to take your career to the next level and join a team constantly striving to do more for their employees, check out our Careers Page today!