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The differences between direct support specialists and direct care staffers 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 $30,480 average annual salary of a direct care staffer.
The top three skills for a direct support specialist include direct support, mental health and CPR. The most important skills for a direct care staffer are mental health, developmental disabilities, and CPR.
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Yearly salary | $37,771 | $30,480 |
| Hourly rate | $18.16 | $14.65 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 95,560 | 117,658 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| 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 Staffer specializes in providing personal care and supervision to the disabled or elderly. Among the responsibilities include administering medication, managing schedules, assisting in hygienic tasks, preparing meals, and doing light to moderate household chores. Furthermore, A Direct Care Staffer also helps in transportation and preparation of daily meals, running various errands, purchasing groceries and daily necessities, and as well as monitoring health conditions. It is also essential for a Daily Care Staffer to update supervisors and guardians regularly.
Direct support specialists and direct care staffers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Average salary | $37,771 | $30,480 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $54,000 | Between $19,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Salem, OR |
| Highest paying state | California | Oregon |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a direct support specialist and a direct care staffer in terms of educational background:
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between direct support specialists' and direct care staffers' demographics:
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.7% Female, 72.3% | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% |
| 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, 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% |