Patients transporter vs resident care associate

The differences between patients transporters and resident care associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a resident care associate has an average salary of $30,497, which is higher than the $29,476 average annual salary of a patients transporter.

The top three skills for a patients transporter include patients, customer service and CPR. The most important skills for a resident care associate are resident care, administer medications, and RCA.

Patients transporter vs resident care associate overview

	Patients Transporter	Resident Care Associate
Yearly salary	$29,476	$30,497
Hourly rate	$14.17	$14.66
Growth rate	9%	36%
Number of jobs	126,533	130,625
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 26%
Average age	42	48
Years of experience	3	-

What does a patients transporter do?

A patients transporter is responsible for transporting patients from one place to assigned healthcare facilities to receive medical care and treatment. Patients transporters assist with moving the patients, such as on wheelchairs and beds, depending on their conditions. They also deliver laboratory tests, medical equipment, specimens, and other medical-related records to different institutions advised by healthcare management. A patients transporter must always adhere to the regulatory procedures to maintain safe and secure operations, especially on ensuring patients' comfort during transportation.

What does a resident care associate do?

Resident Care Associates are responsible for providing support and care to individuals living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Their duties include assisting residents with daily tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing, audit care records, as well as making sure patients take their prescribed medications. They implement daily group activities, attend to medical or safety issues, and communicates any concerns to a resident's family members as required.

Patients transporter vs resident care associate salary

Patients transporters and resident care associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Patients Transporter	Resident Care Associate
Average salary	$29,476	$30,497
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $37,000	Between $24,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Lewiston, ME	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	Vermont	Oregon
Best paying company	Lifespan	The Philadelphia Coalition
Best paying industry	-	Media

Differences between patients transporter and resident care associate education

There are a few differences between a patients transporter and a resident care associate in terms of educational background:

	Patients Transporter	Resident Care Associate
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 36%	High School Diploma, 26%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	-	-

Patients transporter vs resident care associate demographics

Here are the differences between patients transporters' and resident care associates' demographics:

	Patients Transporter	Resident Care Associate
Average age	42	48
Gender ratio	Male, 58.3% Female, 41.7%	Male, 14.6% Female, 85.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 7.5% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.7% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between patients transporter and resident care associate duties and responsibilities

Patients transporter example responsibilities.

Transport vehicles from local edition offices to various locations.
Assist PCA's with changing patients, cleaning rooms and administering EKG's.
Assist oncology nurses, check up on patients, and organize welcome packets.
Assist in the loading and unloading of patients onto ambulances and vans during periods of PRT non-service.
Assist patients in and out of taxis, ambulances or cars upon arrival to or departure of hospital.
Offer oncology patients drinks and snacks to make them feel more comfortable while they are being treat with chemotherapy

Resident care associate example responsibilities.

Assist Alzheimer patients with daily activities including personal care, administering medications and communicating with their families.
Assist in rehabilitation to transfer home.
Have been train to administer medication, CPR train, and mechanical lift train.
Maintain cleanliness throughout med pass, and practice aseptic technique when pouring and assisting with medication.
Assist with ADL's, medication assistance, dinning room service, answering the telephones and front desk monitoring.
Care for residents with diagnosis such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

Patients transporter vs resident care associate skills

Common patients transporter skills

Patients, 37%
Customer Service, 12%
CPR, 7%
Hippa, 6%
Medical Equipment, 6%
Stretchers, 4%

Common resident care associate skills

Resident Care, 24%
Administer Medications, 13%
RCA, 12%
Assist Residents, 7%
Emergency Situations, 6%
Pathogens, 5%

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Zippia Careers
Healthcare Support Industry
Patients Transporter
Patients Transporter vs Resident Care Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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