HSRI: Massachusetts DSP wages lag living‑wage benchmarks as turnover remains high

HSRI's State of the Workforce survey showed persistent workforce stress for direct support professionals (DSPs), with Massachusetts respondents reporting frequent staff changes and wages below living‑wage benchmarks. Lindsay Dubois said that some survey measures—such as whether staff "do things the way a person wants them done"—fall below national benchmarks (85% in Massachusetts vs. a 90% national benchmark). ‘‘The big challenge here is that the wages don't really respond to those typical labor market dynamics… because they are set by Medicaid reimbursement rates,’’ Dubois said.

HSRI noted wages lag the living‑wage benchmarks calculated by MIT: "there was only 1 state in 2024 that paid an average wage to DSPs that met the living wage for 1 adult," Dubois said, and no state met the threshold for one adult plus one child. HSRI also reported a reduction in turnover from 43% in 2021 to 37% by 2024 but cautioned that the workforce remains fragile and that benefit cliffs complicate wage increases.