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The differences between companions and home care attendants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a companion has an average salary of $29,246, which is higher than the $26,059 average annual salary of a home care attendant.
The top three skills for a companion include companionship, patients and home health. The most important skills for a home care attendant are patients, home health, and companionship.
| Companion | Home Care Attendant | |
| Yearly salary | $29,246 | $26,059 |
| Hourly rate | $14.06 | $12.53 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 75,753 | 235,912 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | Bachelor's Degree, 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.
A home care attendant is a health care worker whose primary job is to provide care and assistance to the elderly and people with disabilities. Your day-to-day duties will include monitoring and recording the condition of patients, performing housekeeping and laundry, and providing personal care services such as dressing and bathing. In addition, you will assist patients in caring for themselves by teaching them how to use a walker, cane, and personal hygiene equipment. As a home care attendant, you are also expected to adhere to asepsis procedures and standards to maintain a secure, healthy, and safe environment.
Companions and home care attendants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Companion | Home Care Attendant | |
| Average salary | $29,246 | $26,059 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $38,000 | Between $17,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Watertown Town, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Merck | Dignity Health |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Media |
There are a few differences between a companion and a home care attendant in terms of educational background:
| Companion | Home Care Attendant | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between companions' and home care attendants' demographics:
| Companion | Home Care Attendant | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% | Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9% |
| 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, 10.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 8.0% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |