Employment and Community First CHOICES Workforce QuILTSS Initiative Survey 2019: Year Two Report
DSP Wages
DSP Wages
Organizations reported on the wages paid to DSPs, including starting wages, average wages, and highest DSP wages paid on December 31, 2019. Organizations reported regular wages paid and did not include overtime wages. All data about wages was reported for part-time DSPs, full-time DSPs, and all DSPs. Among all DSPs statewide, the average wages are indicated in Figure 6. The average starting wage for all DSPs was $9.88, the overall average wage for all DSPs was $10.56, and the average highest wage for all DSPs was $13.11.
Organizations were asked to report whether DSPs who work in different service types are paid the same wage for each service. Fifteen percent of organizations pay DSPs the same wage for each service type. This was consistent across Tennessee.
Figure 6. DSP wages
starting | average | highest |
|---|---|---|
$9.88 | $10.56 | $13.11 |
Starting DSP Wages
The average part-time DSP starting wage was $9.72 (range $7.25 to $11.05). The average full-time DSP starting wage was $10.03 (range $7.25 to $18.00). The average DSP starting wage overall was $9.88 (range $7.25 to $18.00). These wages are depicted in Figure 7.
Figure 7. Average starting wage by state and region
Organizations reporting: Overall – State (72), West (21), Middle (32), East (19); Full-time: State (51), West (14), Middle (23), East (14); Part-time: State (48), West (14), Middle (23), East (13)
- The average starting wage was similar across regions. In the East, the average part-time DSP starting wage was $9.92 (range $9.25 to $11.00). The average full-time DSP starting wage was $10.05 (range $8.37 to $11.25). The average DSP starting wage was $9.87 (range $8.37 to $11.16).
- In the Middle, the average part-time DSP starting wage was $10.05 (range $8.50 to $11.05). The average full-time DSP starting wage was $10.41 (range $8.50 to $18.00). The average DSP starting wage was $10.29 (range $8.50 to $18.00).
- In the West, the average part-time DSP starting wage was $9.03 (range $7.25 to $11.00). The average full-time DSP starting wage was $9.39 (range $7.25 to $14.00). The average DSP starting wage was $9.25 (range $7.25 to $11.57).
Average DSP Wages
Figure 8. Average wage by state and region
Organizations reporting: Overall – State (71), West (20), Middle (32), East (19); Full-time: State (50), West (14), Middle (23), East (13); Part-time: State (47), West (14), Middle (21), East (12)
Organizations reported their average wages for part-time, full-time, and all DSPs. The average part-time DSP wage was $10.23 (range $8.80 to $12.19). The average full-time DSP wage was $10.66 (range $8.66 to $18.25). The average overall DSP wage was $10.56 (range $8.66 to $18.25). These overall average wages are indicated by a line on the state and regional profiles. Figure 8 indicates the part-time, full-time, and overall wages (combining full-time and part-time). As with the starting wages, there is little variation in DSP average hourly wages by region.
- In the East, the average part-time DSP wage was $10.38 (range $10.00 to $11.75). The average full-time DSP wage was $10.51 (range $8.66 to $12.16). The average DSP wage was $10.60 (range $8.66 to $12.17).
- In the Middle, the average part-time DSP wage was $10.47 (range $9.00 to $11.58). The average full-time DSP wage was $11.02 (range $9.00 to $18.25). The average DSP wage was $10.98 (range $9.00 to $18.25).
- In the West, the average part-time DSP wage was $9.75 (range $8.80 to $12.19). The average full-time DSP wage was $10.20 (range $9.00 to $14.00). The average DSP wage was $9.85 (range $8.91 to $12.19).
Highest DSP Wages
Organizations were asked to report the highest wages paid to DSPs in their organization by full-time, part-time, and all DSPs in their organization. The average part-time DSP highest wage was $11.48 (range $9.00 to $20.00). The average full-time DSP highest wage was $12.78 (range $9.00 to $20.65), and the average highest DSP wage, combining both part-time and full-time, was $13.11 (range $9.00 to $25.96).
- In the East, the average part-time DSP highest wage was $11.31 (range $10.00 to $15.00). The average full-time DSP highest wage was $12.16 (range $9.00 to $15.00), and the average highest DSP wage, combining both part-time and full-time, was $12.56 (range $9.00 to $16.15).
- In the Middle, the average part-time DSP highest wage was $11.90 (range $9.50 to $16.44). The average full-time DSP highest wage was $13.69 (range $10.00 to $20.65), and the average highest DSP wage, combining both part-time and full-time, was $13.94 (range $10.00 to $25.96).
- In the West, the average part-time DSP highest wage was $10.96 (range $9.00 to $20.00). The average full-time DSP highest wage was $11.84 (range $9.50 to $17.50), and the average highest DSP wage, combining both part-time and full-time, was $12.34 (range $9.00 to $20.00).