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The differences between companions and personal care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a personal care worker has an average salary of $29,490, 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 personal care worker are patients, home health, and good communication.
| Companion | Personal Care Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $29,246 | $29,490 |
| Hourly rate | $14.06 | $14.18 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 75,753 | 129,522 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| 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 personal care worker is responsible for providing quality health care services for elders and disabled persons. Personal care workers are usually employed in a private household setting or a special healthcare institution, assisting patients with their daily activities, and monitoring their conditions. They update the patients' medical charts, administer medication from the physician's prescriptions, and manage their food intake. A personal care worker must be highly-organized, especially when attending to patients' needs, inquiries, and concerns.
Companions and personal care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Companion | Personal Care Worker | |
| Average salary | $29,246 | $29,490 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $38,000 | Between $22,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Lynn, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Merck | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Professional |
There are a few differences between a companion and a personal care worker in terms of educational background:
| Companion | Personal Care Worker | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 28% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between companions' and personal care workers' demographics:
| Companion | Personal Care Worker | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% | Male, 16.4% Female, 83.6% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |