Day camp counselor vs direct care counselor

The differences between day camp counselors and direct care counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct care counselor has an average salary of $33,422, which is higher than the $29,384 average annual salary of a day camp counselor.

The top three skills for a day camp counselor include CPR, kids and cleanliness. The most important skills for a direct care counselor are crisis intervention, autism, and CPR.

Day camp counselor vs direct care counselor overview

	Day Camp Counselor	Direct Care Counselor
Yearly salary	$29,384	$33,422
Hourly rate	$14.13	$16.07
Growth rate	10%	36%
Number of jobs	32,895	123,519
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age	42	48
Years of experience	4	-

What does a day camp counselor do?

The job of the camp counselors is to develop recreational plans and oversee camp activities in residential camps. Their duties and responsibilities include organizing camping trips, planning and scheduling group activities, and guiding children and teenagers in various outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. They are expected to lead campers in emergency procedures and fire drills, explain safety rules and procedures, and provide emotional support to campers. Camp counselors are also responsible for assessing and responding to emergencies when they arise.

What does a direct care counselor do?

A direct care counselor provides direct counseling and assistance to the elderly or individuals with disabilities and mental issues. They usually work at rehabilitation centers or care facilities and work together with nurses or caregivers to administer different treatment plans, monitor and support the patients' progress, and help the patients carry out daily activities such as performing hygienic or routine living tasks. Moreover, a direct care counselor may also develop and implement various healthcare programs and recreational activities while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

Day camp counselor vs direct care counselor salary

Day camp counselors and direct care counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Day Camp Counselor	Direct Care Counselor
Average salary	$29,384	$33,422
Salary range	Between $19,000 And $44,000	Between $22,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	-
Highest paying state	Hawaii	-
Best paying company	City of Portland	-
Best paying industry	Education	-

Differences between day camp counselor and direct care counselor education

There are a few differences between a day camp counselor and a direct care counselor in terms of educational background:

	Day Camp Counselor	Direct Care Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	Duke University	-

Day camp counselor vs direct care counselor demographics

Here are the differences between day camp counselors' and direct care counselors' demographics:

	Day Camp Counselor	Direct Care Counselor
Average age	42	48
Gender ratio	Male, 33.4% Female, 66.6%	Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.0% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	8%	7%

Differences between day camp counselor and direct care counselor duties and responsibilities

Day camp counselor example responsibilities.

Lead a successful group of kids by ensuring safety and behavioral expectations are met and providing structure and organize educational activities.
Administer medication and assist with ADL skills.
Transport patients to outside appointments and AA meetings.
Train in CPR, first-aid, and universal precautions.
Receive first aid, CPR, and emergency response training.
Conduct STI (sexually transmit infection) prevention and awareness campaigns.

Direct care counselor example responsibilities.

Obtain SCIP-R, CPR, and AMAP certifications.
Provide training to residents in improving ADL and independent living skills per the IHP and any/all relate behavior or medical requirements.
Obtain AMAP certification and administer medications under the supervision of assign nursing staff.
Provide direct care assistance for campers with autism, intellectual disabilities, and/or developmental delays.
Perform one-on-one supervision of children with disabilities including autism, complex mental health problems, and complex behavioral problems.
Help develop and carry-out treatment goals for individual clients as outlined in treatment plans and/or ISP goals and objectives.

Day camp counselor vs direct care counselor skills

Common day camp counselor skills

CPR, 20%
Kids, 15%
Cleanliness, 7%
PET, 6%
Leadership, 5%
Direct Supervision, 4%

Common direct care counselor skills

Crisis Intervention, 12%
Autism, 11%
CPR, 10%
Developmental Disabilities, 10%
Incident Reports, 9%
Data Collection, 8%

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Day Camp Counselor
Day Camp Counselor vs Direct Care Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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