Direct care staffer vs residential program worker

The differences between direct care staffers and residential program workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct care staffer has an average salary of $30,480, which is higher than the $28,309 average annual salary of a residential program worker.

The top three skills for a direct care staffer include mental health, developmental disabilities and CPR. The most important skills for a residential program worker are developmental disabilities, patients, and motor vehicle.

Direct care staffer vs residential program worker overview

	Direct Care Staffer	Residential Program Worker
Yearly salary	$30,480	$28,309
Hourly rate	$14.65	$13.61
Growth rate	36%	12%
Number of jobs	117,658	123,680
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age	48	43
Years of experience	-	12

Direct care staffer vs residential program worker salary

Direct care staffers and residential program workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Direct Care Staffer	Residential Program Worker
Average salary	$30,480	$28,309
Salary range	Between $19,000 And $47,000	Between $20,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Salem, OR	Costa Mesa, CA
Highest paying state	Oregon	Wisconsin
Best paying company	New York University	Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Health Care

Differences between direct care staffer and residential program worker education

There are a few differences between a direct care staffer and a residential program worker in terms of educational background:

	Direct Care Staffer	Residential Program Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	-	SUNY at Binghamton

Direct care staffer vs residential program worker demographics

Here are the differences between direct care staffers' and residential program workers' demographics:

	Direct Care Staffer	Residential Program Worker
Average age	48	43
Gender ratio	Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5%	Male, 31.3% Female, 68.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 5.9% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%
LGBT Percentage	7%	11%

Differences between direct care staffer and residential program worker duties and responsibilities

Direct care staffer example responsibilities.

Provide and care for highly volatile patients, administering CPI when require.
Train and supervise individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Assist consumers in development and maintenance of adaptive daily living skills.
Maintain client and community safety through appropriate application of CPI NVCI training.
Assist residence with disabilities, by bathing them, feeding and showing compassion.
Work with Kronos (timekeeping system) and making schedules for the DSP.

Residential program worker example responsibilities.

Serve as primary service provider/trainer for developmentally disable consumers as assigned to achieve functioning independence in self help and ADL 's
Provide assistance with ADL's, escort on medical appointments, goal training, community activity planning ,
Train in medication administration as well as CPR certification.
Supervise and train other rehabilitation workers to ensure quality implementation of QSAC's principles.
Provide appropriate written documentation concerning delivery of services to patients and their progress towards treatment goals.
Provide mentally impair and/or emotionally disturb patients with routine physical, emotional, psychological and rehabilitation care.

Direct care staffer vs residential program worker skills

Common direct care staffer skills

Mental Health, 14%
Developmental Disabilities, 8%
CPR, 8%
Patients, 6%
Autism, 6%
Crisis Intervention, 5%

Common residential program worker skills

Developmental Disabilities, 14%
Patients, 12%
Motor Vehicle, 12%
Mental Health, 11%
Direct Care, 10%
Adaptive, 5%

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Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Direct Care Staffer
Direct Care Staffer vs Residential Program Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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