Direct service professional vs direct care staffer

The differences between direct service professionals and direct care staffers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct service professional has an average salary of $114,053, which is higher than the $30,480 average annual salary of a direct care staffer.

The top three skills for a direct service professional include direct care, CPR and mental health. The most important skills for a direct care staffer are mental health, developmental disabilities, and CPR.

Direct service professional vs direct care staffer overview

	Direct Service Professional	Direct Care Staffer
Yearly salary	$114,053	$30,480
Hourly rate	$54.83	$14.65
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	60,020	117,658
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	-	-

Direct service professional vs direct care staffer salary

Direct service professionals and direct care staffers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Direct Service Professional	Direct Care Staffer
Average salary	$114,053	$30,480
Salary range	Between $68,000 And $188,000	Between $19,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	-	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	-	Oregon
Best paying company	-	New York University
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between direct service professional and direct care staffer education

There are a few differences between a direct service professional and a direct care staffer in terms of educational background:

	Direct Service Professional	Direct Care Staffer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	-	-

Direct service professional vs direct care staffer demographics

Here are the differences between direct service professionals' and direct care staffers' demographics:

	Direct Service Professional	Direct Care Staffer
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7%	Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 8.3% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	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%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between direct service professional and direct care staffer duties and responsibilities

Direct service professional example responsibilities.

Assist consumers with their ADL skills, such as showering, administering medications, and laundry.
Ensure completion of ISP goals, as well as input and come up with new ideas for new ISP's.
Administer medications, assist with ADL's, and communicate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure continuity of care
Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
Provide clients family members, DCF workers, and/or probation officers with up to date of treatment planning and progress.

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.

Direct service professional vs direct care staffer skills

Common direct service professional skills

Direct Care, 11%
CPR, 9%
Mental Health, 7%
Development Disabilities, 7%
Direct Support, 5%
DSP, 5%

Common direct care staffer skills

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

Direct Service Professional vs. similar jobs

Direct Service Professional related careers

Direct Service Professional related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Direct Service Professional
Direct Service Professional vs Direct Care Staffer

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs