Direct care counselor vs child care counselor

The differences between direct care counselors and child care counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a child care counselor has an average salary of $36,843, which is higher than the $33,422 average annual salary of a direct care counselor.

The top three skills for a direct care counselor include crisis intervention, autism and CPR. The most important skills for a child care counselor are CPR, child care, and behavioral issues.

Direct care counselor vs child care counselor overview

	Direct Care Counselor	Child Care Counselor
Yearly salary	$33,422	$36,843
Hourly rate	$16.07	$17.71
Growth rate	36%	9%
Number of jobs	123,519	100,538
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	48	42
Years of experience	-	4

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.

What does a child care counselor do?

Child care counselors monitor the progress of children who have behavioral, physical, and mental issues in between counseling appointments. These counselors create daily schedules for children that include field trips, play dates, and learning plans to ensure that children get the most out of their days. They use their critical thinking skills, organizational skills, and interpersonal skills to deal with children diagnosed with psychological issues and to coordinate with their patients' families. Most of the cases they handle are the abuse, bullying, and past traumas of children.

Direct care counselor vs child care counselor salary

Direct care counselors and child care counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Direct Care Counselor	Child Care Counselor
Average salary	$33,422	$36,843
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $49,000	Between $28,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	-	Chicago, IL
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Washington State University
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between direct care counselor and child care counselor education

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

	Direct Care Counselor	Child Care Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	-	SUNY at Albany

Direct care counselor vs child care counselor demographics

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

	Direct Care Counselor	Child Care Counselor
Average age	48	42
Gender ratio	Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5%	Male, 34.4% Female, 65.6%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	10%

Differences between direct care counselor and child care counselor duties and responsibilities

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.

Child care counselor example responsibilities.

Train in managing risk and restraining only when need, CPR, and first aid.
Remain non-denominational, open, flexible and ecumenical in service to patients while also providing additional resources from local spiritual communities.
Organize and lead regular youth and college bible studies, teaching about prayer and promoting spirituality.

Direct care counselor vs child care counselor skills

Common direct care counselor skills

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

Common child care counselor skills

CPR, 21%
Child Care, 20%
Behavioral Issues, 11%
Crisis Intervention Techniques, 8%
Direct Supervision, 6%
Mental Health, 5%

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Direct Care Counselor vs Child Care Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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