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The differences between care associates and child care associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-3 months to become a care associate, becoming a child care associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a care associate has an average salary of $32,558, which is higher than the $29,146 average annual salary of a child care associate.
The top three skills for a care associate include patients, vital signs and PCA. The most important skills for a child care associate are kids, CPR, and customer service.
| Care Associate | Child Care Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $32,558 | $29,146 |
| Hourly rate | $15.65 | $14.01 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 192,391 | 74,279 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 3 | 2 |
Patient care associates typically work at different healthcare settings where their primary job is to provide basic patient needs and comfort. They are also responsible for several patient care tasks, including bathing patients, changing the pillows and bedsheets of patients, and serving patients' meals. They should comply with safety protocols when performing these tasks. Some of them can give patients medication depending on the level of their training. To become a patient care specialist, one should possess several skills, such as good communication.
A child care associate is primarily responsible for children's welfare and health care while their parents are away. Typically in a school setting, a child care associate monitors children's behavior while giving them tasks that enhance their academic and interpersonal skills, such as recreational games and coloring sessions. For younger learners, a child care associate may change diapers, prepare milk, and accompany them to the toilet. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all the school's policies and regulations while ensuring a safe and healthy environment for the children.
Care associates and child care associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Care Associate | Child Care Associate | |
| Average salary | $32,558 | $29,146 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $48,000 | Between $19,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hollister, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Analysis Group | WRMA Incorporated |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a care associate and a child care associate in terms of educational background:
| Care Associate | Child Care Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Business |
| Most common college | - | University of Virginia |
Here are the differences between care associates' and child care associates' demographics:
| Care Associate | Child Care Associate | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.3% Female, 77.7% | Male, 14.2% Female, 85.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 7.8% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 6.6% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 4% |