Post job

Rehabilitation assistant vs support staff

The differences between rehabilitation assistants and desk clerks supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a rehabilitation assistant, becoming a support staff takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a rehabilitation assistant has an average salary of $35,219, which is higher than the $31,772 average annual salary of a support staff.

The top three skills for a rehabilitation assistant include rehabilitation, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a support staff are customer service, developmental disabilities, and mental health.

Rehabilitation assistant vs support staff overview

Rehabilitation AssistantSupport Staff
Yearly salary$35,219$31,772
Hourly rate$16.93$15.28
Growth rate12%36%
Number of jobs19,317161,915
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4347
Years of experience126

What does a rehabilitation assistant do?

A rehabilitation assistant performs support tasks to assist nurses or therapists in providing care services to patients and maintaining the smooth flow of operations in clinics. Their daily tasks often include greeting patients, answering inquiries, helping patients during treatments and training, and providing personal care by assisting them in hygienic and physical tasks. They may also prepare and process documents, handle calls and correspondence, organize files, liaise with external business partners such as vendors and suppliers, maintain records, and arrange schedules.

What does a support staff do?

School support staff provide specialized instructional and student support while utilizing school facilities. They often include diverse staff members whose main role is to ensure that students learn in a supportive and safe learning environment. It is also their duty to enhance school climate by promoting the involvement of parent and family in education as well as to encourage trusting, positive student relationships. They should inhibit positive behavior and send uplifting messages to students as they often connect with them throughout the day.

Rehabilitation assistant vs support staff salary

Rehabilitation assistants and desk clerks supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Rehabilitation AssistantSupport Staff
Average salary$35,219$31,772
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $47,000Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateIllinoisNew York
Best paying companyHealth AllianceLakeland Electric
Best paying industryTelecommunicationFinance

Differences between rehabilitation assistant and support staff education

There are a few differences between a rehabilitation assistant and a support staff in terms of educational background:

Rehabilitation AssistantSupport Staff
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeNew York UniversityDuke University

Rehabilitation assistant vs support staff demographics

Here are the differences between rehabilitation assistants' and desk clerks supervisors' demographics:

Rehabilitation AssistantSupport Staff
Average age4347
Gender ratioMale, 26.1% Female, 73.9%Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 6.5% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 6.2% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage11%8%

Differences between rehabilitation assistant and support staff duties and responsibilities

Rehabilitation assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage organization and cleanliness of therapy room and equipment.
  • Provide manual manipulation and cuing of patient lower extremities facilitating rehabilitation of gait patterns during body-weight support treadmill training therapy sessions.
  • Lead emergency drills and CPR training.
  • Respect patients rights, and comply with HIPPA confidentiality guidelines.
  • Direct personal care to clients, transportation, assist with therapies, diabetic train, CPR certify
  • Assist with ADL's such as bathing, toileting, grooming, dressing, eating, and ambulation.
  • Show more

Support staff example responsibilities.

  • Manage SharePoint inventory repository and assign access levels to new hires as needed.
  • Provide companionship to the consumer.
  • Tutor students in various science courses, English and GED prep classes.
  • Maintain a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment which fosters growth and rehabilitation.
  • Work with students at various levels of mathematics knowledge within the same teaching environment.
  • Work with students who have graduated from the developmental mathematics program on more advance mathematics classes.
  • Show more

Rehabilitation assistant vs support staff skills

Common rehabilitation assistant skills
  • Rehabilitation, 16%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Money Management, 5%
  • Mental Illness, 5%
Common support staff skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 7%
  • Mental Health, 6%
  • Meal Preparation, 6%
  • Direct Care, 6%
  • Home Maintenance, 6%

Browse community and social services jobs