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The differences between direct support specialists and direct care counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct support specialist has an average salary of $37,771, which is higher than the $33,422 average annual salary of a direct care counselor.
The top three skills for a direct support specialist include direct support, mental health and CPR. The most important skills for a direct care counselor are crisis intervention, autism, and CPR.
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $37,771 | $33,422 |
| Hourly rate | $18.16 | $16.07 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 95,560 | 123,519 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A direct support specialist provides care and assistance to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. They may work at nursing facilities, government institutions, or at the patients' homes. Their responsibilities usually revolve around helping patients with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, going to the toilet, and attending appointments. They may also assist patients in taking medications, handle the laundry and dishes, cook and prepare meals according to nutrition plans, and run errands as necessary. Moreover, they are also responsible for coordinating with physicians, maintaining daily records, and processing documents.
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.
Direct support specialists and direct care counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Average salary | $37,771 | $33,422 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $54,000 | Between $22,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | - |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | - |
There are a few differences between a direct support specialist and a direct care counselor in terms of educational background:
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between direct support specialists' and direct care counselors' demographics:
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.7% Female, 72.3% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.7% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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 | 7% | 7% |