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The differences between direct support specialists and direct support staff 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 $31,268 average annual salary of a direct support staff.
The top three skills for a direct support specialist include direct support, mental health and CPR. The most important skills for a direct support staff are direct support, direct care, and transport clients.
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Support Staff | |
| Yearly salary | $37,771 | $31,268 |
| Hourly rate | $18.16 | $15.03 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 95,560 | 182,001 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| 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.
The direct support staff is an individual who takes responsibility for the overall care of people with developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals work directly with developmental illness patients in long-term health care facilities. They perform their jobs as home health and companion care providers who assist their clients in their daily movements and actions. It is their duty to ensure the comfort and safety of their clients. Also, they encourage behaviors and attitudes which strengthen community inclusion.
Direct support specialists and direct support staff have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Support Staff | |
| Average salary | $37,771 | $31,268 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $54,000 | Between $18,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Santa Maria, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Rockwell Medical |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Professional |
There are a few differences between a direct support specialist and a direct support staff in terms of educational background:
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Support Staff | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between direct support specialists' and direct support staff' demographics:
| Direct Support Specialist | Direct Support Staff | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.7% Female, 72.3% | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.0% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |