Primary care provider vs personal care worker

The differences between primary care providers and personal 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 $29,490 average annual salary of a personal care worker.

The top three skills for a primary care provider include patients, internal medicine and family practice. The most important skills for a personal care worker are patients, home health, and good communication.

Primary care provider vs personal care worker overview

	Primary Care Provider	Personal Care Worker
Yearly salary	$35,422	$29,490
Hourly rate	$17.03	$14.18
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	103,863	129,522
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 36%
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 personal care worker do?

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.

Primary care provider vs personal care worker salary

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

	Primary Care Provider	Personal Care Worker
Average salary	$35,422	$29,490
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $58,000	Between $22,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	Lynn, MA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Massachusetts
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	Tyson Foods
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between primary care provider and personal care worker education

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

	Primary Care Provider	Personal Care Worker
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 42%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	-	-

Primary care provider vs personal care worker demographics

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

	Primary Care Provider	Personal Care Worker
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2%	Male, 16.4% Female, 83.6%
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, 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%

Differences between primary care provider and personal 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.

Personal care worker example responsibilities.

Manage provider network to include verifying claims and benefits for healthcare providers/members and insurance companies.
Assist in transfers using a gate belt or a hoyer lift.
Use a Hoyer lift to transport patient out of bed to their wheel chair
Perform light maintance which include switching window screens and storm windows, installing and removing air conditioning units.
Care for mentally and physically disable individuals, bathing, feeding, house cleaning duties, tolieting, medicines, CPR certify
Travele to different client homes to assist with ADL's i.e., laundry, bathing, grooming, cleaning, etc.

Primary care provider vs personal 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 personal care worker skills

Patients, 24%
Home Health, 20%
Good Communication, 13%
In-Home Care, 12%
Companionship, 5%
Patient Care, 2%

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Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Primary Care Provider
Primary Care Provider vs Personal Care Worker

Updated January 8, 2025

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