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The differences between companions and care providers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a care provider has an average salary of $29,652, which is higher than the $29,246 average annual salary of a companion.
The top three skills for a companion include companionship, patients and home health. The most important skills for a care provider are senior care, patients, and administer medications.
| Companion | Care Provider | |
| Yearly salary | $29,246 | $29,652 |
| Hourly rate | $14.06 | $14.26 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 75,753 | 169,562 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients. They also monitor the patients' medication, prepare their meals based on a medical professional's prescription, support them on their daily activities, respond to the patients' needs and special requests as allowed, and report any developments to their family or guardians. A companion must be compassionate enough to extend physical and emotional support, depending on the client's condition.
A care provider is responsible for assisting patients with their healthcare needs at the highest quality service. Care providers work in various medical organizations or are privately employed by a household. They perform medical procedures such as taking the patient's temperature and vital signs, monitoring their food intake, administering medications, collecting specimens for laboratory tests, and reporting the patient's condition to the attending physician or other health care professionals. A care provider must have excellent communication and organization skills, especially when consulting with patients for their needs and developing healthcare plans.
Companions and care providers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Companion | Care Provider | |
| Average salary | $29,246 | $29,652 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $38,000 | Between $17,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Attleboro, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Merck | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Government |
There are a few differences between a companion and a care provider in terms of educational background:
| Companion | Care Provider | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between companions' and care providers' demographics:
| Companion | Care Provider | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% | Male, 22.1% Female, 77.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |