Primary care provider vs companion

The differences between primary care providers and companions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a primary care provider has an average salary of $35,422, which is higher than the $29,246 average annual salary of a companion.

The top three skills for a primary care provider include patients, internal medicine and family practice. The most important skills for a companion are companionship, patients, and home health.

Primary care provider vs companion overview

	Primary Care Provider	Companion
Yearly salary	$35,422	$29,246
Hourly rate	$17.03	$14.06
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	103,863	75,753
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 28%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	-	-

What does a primary care provider do?

Primary Care Providers, also known as general practitioners instead of specialists, are doctors trained to be the first point of contact for a patient entering the health care system. They diagnose, treat, and prevent a broad range of injuries and illnesses from allergies and colds to longer-term conditions such as Diabetes Mellitus. Their duties include performing lab tests to identify a condition, prescribing medications, checking for drug interactions, provide wound care, executing spirometry tests and electrocardiograms, and coordinating specialist care for your condition. A Primary Care Provider will also help create self-care plans prescribing a certain diet and recommending exercise routines.

What does a companion do?

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.

Primary care provider vs companion salary

Primary care providers and companions have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Primary Care Provider	Companion
Average salary	$35,422	$29,246
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $58,000	Between $22,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Washington
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	Merck
Best paying industry	-	Non Profits

Differences between primary care provider and companion education

There are a few differences between a primary care provider and a companion in terms of educational background:

	Primary Care Provider	Companion
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 28%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	-	-

Primary care provider vs companion demographics

Here are the differences between primary care providers' and companions' demographics:

	Primary Care Provider	Companion
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%	Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 9.7% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%	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	7%	7%

Differences between primary care provider and companion duties and responsibilities

Primary care provider example responsibilities.

Manage provider network to include verifying claims and benefits for healthcare providers/members and insurance companies.
Work alongside ABA therapists to continue to apply appropriate behavioral techniques.
Examine patients and carefully analyze test results and information gather during examinations to properly diagnose illnesses and diseases.
Used strong oral and written communications skills to develop and maintain effective relationships with patients, co-workers and international medical professionals.
Provide caring companionship to developmentally disabled/elderly residents.
Assist with toileting, including bedpans, urinals and commode chairs.

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Companion example responsibilities.

Assist residents with use of bedpans, urinals, commode, and bathroom and assist with routine catheter care.
Experience with wind care, colostomy, fluid and electrolyte balance; assist with ambulation, ADL's and medication administration.
Provide companionship to elderly patients which also include feeding and light bathing
Perform first aid, knowledgeable with CPR.
Display empathy, compassion, care, and love.
Used skills as: compassion, listening, problem solving.

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Primary care provider vs companion skills

Common primary care provider skills

Patients, 31%
Internal Medicine, 13%
Family Practice, 12%
Patient Care, 11%
Urgent Care, 10%
NP, 4%

Common companion skills

Companionship, 20%
Patients, 16%
Home Health, 7%
Provide Emotional Support, 7%
Patient Care, 7%
Meal Prep, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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