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The differences between companions and elderly caregivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an elderly caregiver has an average salary of $37,109, 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 an elderly caregiver are adaptive, oral care, and companionship.
| Companion | Elderly Caregiver | |
| Yearly salary | $29,246 | $37,109 |
| Hourly rate | $14.06 | $17.84 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 75,753 | 71,532 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| 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.
An Elderly Caregiver provides personal and emotional support to people who cannot look after themselves. They are either hired by a client or their family, or report directly to a physician or a nurse.
Companions and elderly caregivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Companion | Elderly Caregiver | |
| Average salary | $29,246 | $37,109 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $38,000 | Between $23,000 And $59,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Merck | CARE |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a companion and an elderly caregiver in terms of educational background:
| Companion | Elderly Caregiver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between companions' and elderly caregivers' demographics:
| Companion | Elderly Caregiver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% | Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 7.4% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |