Direct support staff vs direct support associate

The differences between direct support staff and direct support associates 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 $29,934 average annual salary of a direct support associate.

The top three skills for a direct support staff include direct support, direct care and transport clients. The most important skills for a direct support associate are intellectual disabilities, emotional support, and developmental disabilities.

Direct support staff vs direct support associate overview

	Direct Support Staff	Direct Support Associate
Yearly salary	$31,268	$29,934
Hourly rate	$15.03	$14.39
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	182,001	111,451
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	-	-

What does a direct support staff do?

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.

What does a direct support associate do?

Direct Support Associates are responsible for aiding individuals with developmental, mental, or physical disabilities in their daily living activities. Their duties include administering prescribed medications, coach patients to develop money management, housekeeping, and social skills, and provide feedback to patients in areas of improvement. They are also involved in supervising skills-building activities, meal preparations, schedule organization, and produces patient progress report. Direct Support Associates also maintain a supportive relationship with the client to foster social engagement and community inclusion.

Direct support staff vs direct support associate salary

Direct support staff and direct support associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Direct Support Staff	Direct Support Associate
Average salary	$31,268	$29,934
Salary range	Between $18,000 And $53,000	Between $16,000 And $52,000
Highest paying City	Santa Maria, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Rockwell Medical	The Carlyle Group
Best paying industry	Professional	Manufacturing

Differences between direct support staff and direct support associate education

There are a few differences between a direct support staff and a direct support associate in terms of educational background:

	Direct Support Staff	Direct Support Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Psychology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Direct support staff vs direct support associate demographics

Here are the differences between direct support staff' and direct support associates' demographics:

	Direct Support Staff	Direct Support Associate
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3%	Male, 26.2% Female, 73.8%
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, 10.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 8.8% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between direct support staff and direct support associate duties and responsibilities

Direct support staff example responsibilities.

Ensure HIPAA compliance and provide client education.
Perform first aid, CPR and seizure care when require.
Assist mentally disable adults with ADL such as bathing cooking clothing, cleaning and medication administration.
Administer medication, provide transportation, assist with ADL skills, and inspire consumers to be independent.
Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
Maintain a safe and supportive environment while learning proper case management and the importance of ISP's and BSP's.

Direct support associate example responsibilities.

Assist patients with ADL's, while individualizing patient care, and allowing patients to be as independent as possible.
Assist individuals with ADL's such as grooming, toileting, feeding, and escorting on community outings.
Assist clients with everyday living task/skills, transportation into the community, developmental skills, ISP, medication administration.
Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
Facilitate exercise, vocational, arts-n-crafts, and daily living skills groups for consumers with DD.

Direct support staff vs direct support associate skills

Common direct support staff skills

Direct Support, 17%
Direct Care, 11%
Transport Clients, 11%
Good Judgment, 9%
Home Maintenance, 7%
Ongoing Support, 7%

Common direct support associate skills

Intellectual Disabilities, 19%
Emotional Support, 18%
Developmental Disabilities, 15%
Administer Medications, 4%
Autism, 4%
Group Homes, 4%

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Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Direct Support Staff
Direct Support Staff vs Direct Support Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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