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The differences between group home workers and companions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a group home worker has an average salary of $40,224, which is higher than the $29,246 average annual salary of a companion.
The top three skills for a group home worker include social work, crisis intervention and data entry. The most important skills for a companion are companionship, patients, and home health.
| Group Home Worker | Companion | |
| Yearly salary | $40,224 | $29,246 |
| Hourly rate | $19.34 | $14.06 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 88,906 | 75,753 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 50 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A group home worker is an employee who assists with different types of patients staying in group homes to help them develop life skills until they are ready to live independently. Group home workers must assist different types of patients, such as adults diagnosed with mental illness, seniors with disabilities, or young residents who cannot live with their families due to behavioral issues. They must monitor the behavior of residents, especially those with a troubled past.
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.
Group home workers and companions have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Group Home Worker | Companion | |
| Average salary | $40,224 | $29,246 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $54,000 | Between $22,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fairbanks, AK | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | Texas | Merck |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a group home worker and a companion in terms of educational background:
| Group Home Worker | Companion | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between group home workers' and companions' demographics:
| Group Home Worker | Companion | |
| Average age | 50 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 5% | 7% |