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Homemaker vs direct support professional

The differences between homemakers and direct support professionals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct support professional has an average salary of $32,077, 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 support professional are direct support, developmental disabilities, and autism.

Homemaker vs direct support professional overview

HomemakerDirect Support Professional
Yearly salary$26,588$32,077
Hourly rate$12.78$15.42
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs58,809142,034
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%High School Diploma, 30%
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 support professional do?

Direct support professionals are responsible for taking care of patients with physical or mental limitations. They do a variety of tasks for their patients, such as doing household chores, running errands for them, cooking for them, feeding them, bathing and dressing them, and helping them with their medication, among others. They also provide their patients with companionship, accompanying their patients to appointments, providing emotional support, and being with their patients for the most part of the day. They should be familiar with their patients' prescribed medicines, meal plans, therapy schedules, and other items related to the betterment of the patients' condition. Direct support professionals help the patients overcome their challenges and assist them in acclimating themselves with their current environment.

Homemaker vs direct support professional salary

Homemakers and direct support professionals have different pay scales, as shown below.

HomemakerDirect Support Professional
Average salary$26,588$32,077
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $34,000Between $18,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CityBeverly, MASanta Clara, CA
Highest paying stateMaineCalifornia
Best paying companyAmedisysMeta
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between homemaker and direct support professional education

There are a few differences between a homemaker and a direct support professional in terms of educational background:

HomemakerDirect Support Professional
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%High School Diploma, 30%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common college--

Homemaker vs direct support professional demographics

Here are the differences between homemakers' and direct support professionals' demographics:

HomemakerDirect Support Professional
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 6.8% Female, 93.2%Male, 24.4% Female, 75.6%
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, 9.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.3% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between homemaker and direct support professional 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 support professional example responsibilities.

  • Work with adults who have disabilities to help manage everyday tasks such as laundry, cooking, preparing groceries, etc.
  • Provide care to adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities while administering their medication via AMAP certification
  • Support the development of individuals with autism by promoting community involvement and performing exercises to strengthen their cognitive and social skills.
  • Assist with toileting, including urinals.
  • Maintain medical records according to all HIPPA guidelines.
  • Assist coordinator to train new DCW on assign shift.
  • Show more

Homemaker vs direct support professional skills

Common homemaker skills
  • Home Health, 25%
  • Nutritious Meals, 19%
  • RUN Errands, 6%
  • Home Management, 6%
  • Patient Care, 3%
  • Meal Prep, 3%
Common direct support professional skills
  • Direct Support, 19%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 12%
  • Autism, 9%
  • Direct Care, 7%
  • DSP, 7%
  • Mental Health, 6%

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