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Homemaker vs direct care worker

The differences between homemakers and direct care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct care worker has an average salary of $29,343, which is higher than the $26,588 average annual salary of a homemaker.

The top three skills for a homemaker include home health, nutritious meals and run errands. The most important skills for a direct care worker are direct care, patients, and CPR.

Homemaker vs direct care worker overview

HomemakerDirect Care Worker
Yearly salary$26,588$29,343
Hourly rate$12.78$14.11
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs58,809140,788
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

What does a homemaker do?

Homemakers specialize in performing daily tasks related to cleanliness, organization, and other household routine activities such as cooking and laundry. Furthermore, a homemaker may also be responsible for looking after the care or welfare of children or the elderly. Among the duties may revolve around managing their schedules and assisting them in basic hygienic needs such as bathing, dressing, and feeding if necessary. A homemaker can also take charge of budgeting, often having to purchase groceries regularly and pay bills.

What does a direct care worker do?

A Direct Care Worker's responsibility revolves around overseeing clients' welfare and health care from different ages and conditions. Most of the duties will involve assistance in basic hygienic tasks such as bathing or going to the toilet, performing light chores such as preparing healthy meals and cleaning a bedroom, and ensuring the patient's medication intake aligns with the schedule. Furthermore, it is also the duty of a Direct Care Worker to empathize and build rapport with clients to make them feel more at ease.

Homemaker vs direct care worker salary

Homemakers and direct care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.

HomemakerDirect Care Worker
Average salary$26,588$29,343
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $34,000Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying CityBeverly, MAPortland, ME
Highest paying stateMaineWashington
Best paying companyAmedisysArizona Training & Evaluation Center
Best paying industryHealth CareProfessional

Differences between homemaker and direct care worker education

There are a few differences between a homemaker and a direct care worker in terms of educational background:

HomemakerDirect Care Worker
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common college--

Homemaker vs direct care worker demographics

Here are the differences between homemakers' and direct care workers' demographics:

HomemakerDirect Care Worker
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 6.8% Female, 93.2%Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between homemaker and direct care worker duties and responsibilities

Homemaker example responsibilities.

  • Manage everyday household duties of being a mom and wife
  • Care for children, administer budget, shop for groceries and other household items, run errands.
  • Assist Alzheimer's patient with daily tasks e.g.
  • Volunteer at local school as PTO president and treasurer.
  • Assist with ADL's, plan and prepare meals for elderly person
  • Assist Alzheimer's patient with business, health, and personal needs.
  • Show more

Direct care worker example responsibilities.

  • Provide caring companionship to elderly and developmentally disable patients with or without chronic health diagnosis.
  • Assist individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities with ADL's.
  • Conduct socialization groups to aid individuals in development of ADL and socialization skills.
  • Prepare daily documents administer medications handle patients hygiene house cleaning and provide transportation to and from appointment
  • Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
  • Provide day to day services that include transport, nutrition, hygiene, housekeeping and activities to MRDD clients.
  • Show more

Homemaker vs direct care worker skills

Common homemaker skills
  • Home Health, 25%
  • Nutritious Meals, 19%
  • RUN Errands, 6%
  • Home Management, 6%
  • Patient Care, 3%
  • Meal Prep, 3%
Common direct care worker skills
  • Direct Care, 22%
  • Patients, 11%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 4%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%

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