Family caregiver vs health care provider

The differences between family caregivers and health care providers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a health care provider has an average salary of $39,309, which is higher than the $32,827 average annual salary of a family caregiver.

The top three skills for a family caregiver include meal preparation, companionship and in-home care. The most important skills for a health care provider are patients, meal prep, and mental health.

Family caregiver vs health care provider overview

	Family Caregiver	Health Care Provider
Yearly salary	$32,827	$39,309
Hourly rate	$15.78	$18.90
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	126,188	236,098
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	High School Diploma, 31%
Average age	48	50
Years of experience	-	-

What does a family caregiver do?

Family caregivers mainly provide care to families operating as health care system extensions. The caregivers perform complicated therapeutic and medical tasks and ensure recipients' compliance with their therapeutic regimens. They serve as home-based coordinators of care and personal care recipient advocates. It is their job to assess the needs of the families. They also prepare a care plan, help with housekeeping, provide companionship, monitor medications, and prepare meals.

What does a health care provider do?

A health care provider offers health care services such as the diagnosis of diseases in medical laboratories, imaging centers, or treatment services. Your job responsibility as a health care provider may be to look after the well-being of patients and provide specific medical care to them. Your job is to meet clients at the point of their needs when they have medical challenges and provide a solution to them.

Family caregiver vs health care provider salary

Family caregivers and health care providers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Family Caregiver	Health Care Provider
Average salary	$32,827	$39,309
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $46,000	Between $25,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between family caregiver and health care provider education

There are a few differences between a family caregiver and a health care provider in terms of educational background:

	Family Caregiver	Health Care Provider
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	High School Diploma, 31%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Family caregiver vs health care provider demographics

Here are the differences between family caregivers' and health care providers' demographics:

	Family Caregiver	Health Care Provider
Average age	48	50
Gender ratio	Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7%	Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 8.6% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	Black or African American, 24.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 35.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	7%	5%

Differences between family caregiver and health care provider duties and responsibilities

Family caregiver example responsibilities.

Manage all household duties, meals, laundry, groceries, appointments, etc.
Be up to date on CPR, first aid and classes.
Preform a great knowledge of CPR experience.
Assist with ADL's, socialization, and developmental progression.
Give daily injections of insulin and attempt to prevent complications of diabetes.
Instructed/Advise individuals on issues such as household cleanliness, hygiene, nutrition, and infant care.

Health care provider example responsibilities.

Manage ventilator settings, suction tracheostomy, tube-feeding assistance.
Provide assistance including administering prescribe oral medications to ADL patients.
Maintain all client confidentiality, licensing and CPR compliance records.
Full personal care attendant, CPR license, documentation, friendly and courteous.
Help with daily activities, transfers, bathing, medical documentation, ordering supplies, and catheter care.
Provide support and aid in problematic situations involving incontinence, cognitive impairment, mobility, and Alzheimer care.

Family caregiver vs health care provider skills

Common family caregiver skills

Meal Preparation, 18%
Companionship, 11%
In-Home Care, 10%
Medical Assistance, 9%
Doctor Appointments, 6%
Medication Administration, 4%

Common health care provider skills

Patients, 27%
Meal Prep, 11%
Mental Health, 9%
Social Work, 8%
Laundry Services, 7%
Home Health, 7%

Family Caregiver vs. similar jobs

Family Caregiver related careers

Family Caregiver related jobs

Family Caregiver jobs by location

Zippia Careers
Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Family Caregiver
Family Caregiver vs Health Care Provider

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs