Direct Support Professional

Merakey·Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

$18 - $18/hrFull Time On Site 0-2 yrsPosted 13 days ago

Practice for this role

Direct Support Professional · $18 - $18/hr

How this role compares

Computed from live listings

-41% vs. median posted rate for behavioral health roles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($30.00/hr, n=263)

581 similar openings in the Philadelphia area · median $30.00/hr

$7.80/hr · p10p90 · $270/hr

this role: $17.69/hrmedian $30.00/hr

Shaded band: the middle 50% of 263 posted behavioral health roles in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rates. This role sits in the 20th percentile.

About the role

Pay for this role is about 41% below the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania median for behavioral health roles.

The Direct Support Professional provides direct care, support, and advocacy to consumers to assist them in achieving their goals. Responsibilities include facilitating community integration, volunteer activities, and implementing rehabilitative and therapeutic services.

Payrate

$17.69/hour

Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. We are seeking Direct Support Professionals to join our team in our Philadelphia location.

If you are a Caregiver, Direct Care Worker, Home Health aide or always wanted to be one, this is the opportunity for you as we are hiring immediately!

Position Details

Our ideal Direct Support Professional candidate will have a strong desire to create long-term impacts on their consumer’s lives and enjoy encouraging, mentoring, and coaching others to achieve their goals.

Spend your day in a variety of settings making memories with our individuals.

By following the Individual Support Plan, you can enjoy your days at the park and sensory gardens, while working on social and communication skills.

Enhancing independence by assisting with daily hygiene and personal care.

Foster a true sense of pride in your individual, teaching them to navigate daily living activities, such as housekeeping and laundry.

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey. [https://youtu.be/MD3KtxmS7qo] Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse.

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following

Active Driver’s License

Related experience is helpful. The employee must possess good verbal and written communication skills.

Requirements

Candidates must possess an active driver's license and demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills. The role requires the ability to conduct functional assessments, maintain accurate records, and supervise social and recreational activities.

Advocacy
Flexibility
Supervision
Initiative
Communication skills
Community integration
Record keeping
Problem solving
Food preparation
Report writing
Observation skills
Direct care
Sign language
Functional assessments

Benefits

Employee Assistance Program
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Medical insurance
Retirement plan
Employee discounts
Tuition reimbursement
Life insurance
Disability insurance
DailyPay
Well-being platform
Online personal development classes
Healthcare advocacy support
Backup childcare
Elder care

Posting details

Employment type: Full Time
Work arrangement: On Site
Experience: 0-2 yrs
Salary: $18 - $18/hr
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Posted: Aug 26, 2026
Application: Employer website

Direct support roles remain steady in Pennsylvania

Direct Support Professional openings in Pennsylvania are often driven by ongoing staffing needs in community-based care and support services. This role can be competitive because employers may prefer candidates with home health or intellectual and developmental disabilities experience, even when no prior experience is required. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, and confirm you meet the age and valid driver’s license criteria before applying.