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The differences between personal assistants and companions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a personal assistant has an average salary of $40,026, which is higher than the $29,246 average annual salary of a companion.
The top three skills for a personal assistant include run errands, companionship and scheduling appointments. The most important skills for a companion are companionship, patients, and home health.
| Personal Assistant | Companion | |
| Yearly salary | $40,026 | $29,246 |
| Hourly rate | $19.24 | $14.06 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 21,638 | 75,753 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Average age | 49 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Personal assistants are employees working for individuals who need help in managing their personal affairs. Personal assistants manage the daily activities of their employers. They are in charge of managing their employer's schedules and appointments, often coordinating their meetings and orienting them on their schedule at the start of the day. They also arrange travel needs, from looking for travel tickets to booking accommodations. When they have built enough trust with their employer, they are entrusted to also manage personal financial accounts and are often given access to other confidential information related to the employer.
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.
Personal assistants and companions have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Personal Assistant | Companion | |
| Average salary | $40,026 | $29,246 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $60,000 | Between $22,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | AbbVie | Merck |
| Best paying industry | Real Estate | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a personal assistant and a companion in terms of educational background:
| Personal Assistant | Companion | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | High School Diploma, 28% |
| Most common major | Business | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between personal assistants' and companions' demographics:
| Personal Assistant | Companion | |
| Average age | 49 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.3% Female, 80.7% | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 7.4% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 12% | 7% |