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The differences between personal care assistants and personal care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a personal care worker has an average salary of $29,490, which is higher than the $26,643 average annual salary of a personal care assistant.
The top three skills for a personal care assistant include patients, CPR and home health. The most important skills for a personal care worker are patients, home health, and good communication.
| Personal Care Assistant | Personal Care Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $26,643 | $29,490 |
| Hourly rate | $12.81 | $14.18 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 256,869 | 129,522 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.67 | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 31% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Personal care assistants are employed to help individuals who may need special attention or assistance. They are usually trained to care for individuals with specific conditions, whether physically or mentally. Personal care assistants manage their meal plans, medicine intake, daily schedule, and therapy, among others. They help their clients move, eat, bathe, and dress. They also run errands and provide any other assistance that their clients may need. Personal care assistants also provide emotional and moral support to their clients. They are also in touch with medical professionals and provide updates on the health of their clients.
A personal care worker is responsible for providing quality health care services for elders and disabled persons. Personal care workers are usually employed in a private household setting or a special healthcare institution, assisting patients with their daily activities, and monitoring their conditions. They update the patients' medical charts, administer medication from the physician's prescriptions, and manage their food intake. A personal care worker must be highly-organized, especially when attending to patients' needs, inquiries, and concerns.
Personal care assistants and personal care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Personal Care Assistant | Personal Care Worker | |
| Average salary | $26,643 | $29,490 |
| Salary range | Between $18,000 And $37,000 | Between $22,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Lynn, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Massachusetts General Hospital | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a personal care assistant and a personal care worker in terms of educational background:
| Personal Care Assistant | Personal Care Worker | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 31% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between personal care assistants' and personal care workers' demographics:
| Personal Care Assistant | Personal Care Worker | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.0% Female, 85.0% | Male, 16.4% Female, 83.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |