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The differences between mental health associates and health aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a mental health associate has an average salary of $36,510, which is higher than the $30,434 average annual salary of a health aide.
The top three skills for a mental health associate include patients, customer service and vital signs. The most important skills for a health aide are patients, home health, and community health.
| Mental Health Associate | Health Aide | |
| Yearly salary | $36,510 | $30,434 |
| Hourly rate | $17.55 | $14.63 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 122,947 | 121,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 45 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
As a mental health associate, you will assist the medical team members in diagnosing and treating individuals with mental, developmental, and behavioral conditions. You may be tasked to facilitate individual and group therapy sessions, help patients with their day-to-day activities such as self-care and hygiene, and assist in administering medications prescribed by physicians. Other duties include planning and leading program activities, attending treatment rounds, and assisting with the physical care of patients. The qualifications and skills required for this role include a bachelor's degree in social science or psychology, previous work experience, and certification on basic life support.
A health aide is responsible for providing care and assistance to patients in medical facilities, care centers, and even at home. They typically help patients by administering medicines, monitoring their blood pressure and vital signs, facilitating exercises, preparing meals, providing emotional support, and assisting them in performing hygienic tasks such as bathing, dressing, brushing teeth, and going to the toilet. Furthermore, as a health aide, it is essential to monitor the behavior and progress of patients, reporting to nurses and physicians regularly.
Mental health associates and health aides have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mental Health Associate | Health Aide | |
| Average salary | $36,510 | $30,434 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $51,000 | Between $23,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Marysville, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Boston Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a mental health associate and a health aide in terms of educational background:
| Mental Health Associate | Health Aide | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Nursing |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | - |
Here are the differences between mental health associates' and health aides' demographics:
| Mental Health Associate | Health Aide | |
| Average age | 45 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 16.6% Female, 83.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 15% | 5% |