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The differences between direct support staff and companions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct support staff has an average salary of $31,268, which is higher than the $29,246 average annual salary of a companion.
The top three skills for a direct support staff include direct support, direct care and transport clients. The most important skills for a companion are companionship, patients, and home health.
| Direct Support Staff | Companion | |
| Yearly salary | $31,268 | $29,246 |
| Hourly rate | $15.03 | $14.06 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 182,001 | 75,753 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients. They also monitor the patients' medication, prepare their meals based on a medical professional's prescription, support them on their daily activities, respond to the patients' needs and special requests as allowed, and report any developments to their family or guardians. A companion must be compassionate enough to extend physical and emotional support, depending on the client's condition.
Direct support staff and companions have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Direct Support Staff | Companion | |
| Average salary | $31,268 | $29,246 |
| Salary range | Between $18,000 And $53,000 | Between $22,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Maria, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Rockwell Medical | Merck |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a direct support staff and a companion in terms of educational background:
| Direct Support Staff | Companion | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between direct support staff' and companions' demographics:
| Direct Support Staff | Companion | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |