Primary care provider vs direct care worker

The differences between primary care providers and direct care workers 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 $29,343 average annual salary of a direct care worker.

The top three skills for a primary care provider include patients, internal medicine and family practice. The most important skills for a direct care worker are direct care, patients, and CPR.

Primary care provider vs direct care worker overview

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Worker
Yearly salary	$35,422	$29,343
Hourly rate	$17.03	$14.11
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	103,863	140,788
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 32%
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 worker do?

A Direct Care Worker's responsibility revolves around overseeing clients' welfare and health care from different ages and conditions. Most of the duties will involve assistance in basic hygienic tasks such as bathing or going to the toilet, performing light chores such as preparing healthy meals and cleaning a bedroom, and ensuring the patient's medication intake aligns with the schedule. Furthermore, it is also the duty of a Direct Care Worker to empathize and build rapport with clients to make them feel more at ease.

Primary care provider vs direct care worker salary

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

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Worker
Average salary	$35,422	$29,343
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $58,000	Between $23,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Washington
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	Arizona Training & Evaluation Center
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between primary care provider and direct care worker education

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

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 32%
Most common major	Nursing	Psychology
Most common college	-	-

Primary care provider vs direct care worker demographics

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

	Primary Care Provider	Direct Care Worker
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%	Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
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, 12.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 7.6% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between primary care provider and direct care worker 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 worker example responsibilities.

Provide caring companionship to elderly and developmentally disable patients with or without chronic health diagnosis.
Assist individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities with ADL's.
Conduct socialization groups to aid individuals in development of ADL and socialization skills.
Prepare daily documents administer medications handle patients hygiene house cleaning and provide transportation to and from appointment
Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
Provide day to day services that include transport, nutrition, hygiene, housekeeping and activities to MRDD clients.

Primary care provider vs direct care worker 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 worker skills

Direct Care, 22%
Patients, 11%
CPR, 7%
Developmental Disabilities, 4%
Crisis Intervention, 4%
Vital Signs, 4%

Primary Care Provider vs. similar jobs

Primary Care Provider related careers

Primary Care Provider related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Primary Care Provider
Primary Care Provider vs Direct Care Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs