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Personal support worker vs direct service provider

The differences between personal support workers and direct service providers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a personal support worker has an average salary of $37,301, which is higher than the $28,496 average annual salary of a direct service provider.

The top three skills for a personal support worker include CPR, meal preparation and home health. The most important skills for a direct service provider are direct care, mental illness, and intellectual disabilities.

Personal support worker vs direct service provider overview

Personal Support WorkerDirect Service Provider
Yearly salary$37,301$28,496
Hourly rate$17.93$13.70
Growth rate36%36%
Number of jobs126,56349,939
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

Personal support worker vs direct service provider salary

Personal support workers and direct service providers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Personal Support WorkerDirect Service Provider
Average salary$37,301$28,496
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $54,000Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City-Juneau, AK
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-North Carolina A&T State University
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between personal support worker and direct service provider education

There are a few differences between a personal support worker and a direct service provider in terms of educational background:

Personal Support WorkerDirect Service Provider
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common college--

Personal support worker vs direct service provider demographics

Here are the differences between personal support workers' and direct service providers' demographics:

Personal Support WorkerDirect Service Provider
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 28.7% Female, 71.3%Male, 28.6% Female, 71.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 8.3% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 7.8% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between personal support worker and direct service provider duties and responsibilities

Personal support worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist patient in performing ADL's daily.
  • Perform first aid or CPR when need.
  • SKIP, CPR, Defibulator and CDL certify.
  • Provide assistance for patients with alzheimer's and dementia in their home.
  • Provide community support, ADL care, medication administration, clinical documentation
  • Dispense medication to individuals with disabilities by distributing and administering medications according to the AMAP policy and procedures.
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Direct service provider example responsibilities.

  • Train and experience in adult and child first aid and CPR.
  • Certify medicine administer, CPR and first aid certify, CPI certify.
  • Assist residents in activities of daily living (ADL's) on a daily basis.
  • Prepare documents on the computer for annual ISP meetings with clients and their team members.
  • Pass medications, attend ISP meetings, help with personal hygiene, work on state goals.
  • Job duties include job coaching, skill training, ADL management, and implementing behavior management plans.
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Personal support worker vs direct service provider skills

Common personal support worker skills
  • CPR, 15%
  • Meal Preparation, 15%
  • Home Health, 15%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 11%
  • Direct Care, 8%
  • Support Person, 6%
Common direct service provider skills
  • Direct Care, 29%
  • Mental Illness, 20%
  • Intellectual Disabilities, 18%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 6%
  • Direct Services, 4%
  • CPR, 4%

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