Primary care provider vs direct care staffer

The differences between primary care providers and direct care staffers 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 $30,480 average annual salary of a direct care staffer.

The top three skills for a primary care provider include patients, internal medicine and family practice. The most important skills for a direct care staffer are mental health, developmental disabilities, and CPR.

Primary care provider vs direct care staffer overview

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Staffer
Yearly salary	$35,422	$30,480
Hourly rate	$17.03	$14.65
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	103,863	117,658
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
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 direct care staffer do?

A Direct Care Staffer specializes in providing personal care and supervision to the disabled or elderly. Among the responsibilities include administering medication, managing schedules, assisting in hygienic tasks, preparing meals, and doing light to moderate household chores. Furthermore, A Direct Care Staffer also helps in transportation and preparation of daily meals, running various errands, purchasing groceries and daily necessities, and as well as monitoring health conditions. It is also essential for a Daily Care Staffer to update supervisors and guardians regularly.

Primary care provider vs direct care staffer salary

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

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Staffer
Average salary	$35,422	$30,480
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $58,000	Between $19,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Oregon
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	New York University
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between primary care provider and direct care staffer education

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

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Staffer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Nursing	Psychology
Most common college	-	-

Primary care provider vs direct care staffer demographics

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

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Staffer
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%	Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5%
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, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between primary care provider and direct care staffer 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.

Direct care staffer example responsibilities.

Provide and care for highly volatile patients, administering CPI when require.
Train and supervise individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Assist consumers in development and maintenance of adaptive daily living skills.
Maintain client and community safety through appropriate application of CPI NVCI training.
Assist residence with disabilities, by bathing them, feeding and showing compassion.
Work with Kronos (timekeeping system) and making schedules for the DSP.

Primary care provider vs direct care staffer skills

Common primary care provider skills

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

Common direct care staffer skills

Mental Health, 14%
Developmental Disabilities, 8%
CPR, 8%
Patients, 6%
Autism, 6%
Crisis Intervention, 5%

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Primary Care Provider
Primary Care Provider vs Direct Care Staffer

Updated January 8, 2025

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