Resident care aide vs direct care provider

The differences between resident care aides and direct care providers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct care provider has an average salary of $29,470, which is higher than the $28,846 average annual salary of a resident care aide.

The top three skills for a resident care aide include CPR, home health and assist residents. The most important skills for a direct care provider are CPR, developmental disabilities, and mental health.

Resident care aide vs direct care provider overview

	Resident Care Aide	Direct Care Provider
Yearly salary	$28,846	$29,470
Hourly rate	$13.87	$14.17
Growth rate	36%	36%
Number of jobs	164,696	117,168
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	-	-

Resident care aide vs direct care provider salary

Resident care aides and direct care providers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Resident Care Aide	Direct Care Provider
Average salary	$28,846	$29,470
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $37,000	Between $20,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	-	Olympia, WA
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Washington State University
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between resident care aide and direct care provider education

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

	Resident Care Aide	Direct Care Provider
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Nursing	Psychology
Most common college	-	-

Resident care aide vs direct care provider demographics

Here are the differences between resident care aides' and direct care providers' demographics:

	Resident Care Aide	Direct Care Provider
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 13.9% Female, 86.1%	Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between resident care aide and direct care provider duties and responsibilities

Resident care aide example responsibilities.

Recognize by physicians for ability to meticulously prepare patient's chest and attach leads to obtain excellent quality EKG tracings.
Operate medical devices (hoyer, sit to stand, walkers, wheelchairs) [].
Take care of residents per ADL's (dressing, basic hygiene, toileting, medication reminders and ambulation).
Perform wound, catheter, and colostomy care.
Escort residents to meals with walkers or wheel chairs.
Assist in emptying a catheter as well as providing the daily peri-care.

Direct care provider example responsibilities.

Require certification in MANDT and CPR.
Coach and train clients to improve their daily living (ADL), social interaction and job skills.
Provide instruction and assist the consumers with active daily living (ADL) skills such as cooking, bathing, dressing.
Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
Facilitate exercise, vocational, arts-n-crafts, and daily living skills groups for consumers with DD.

Resident care aide vs direct care provider skills

Common resident care aide skills

CPR, 18%
Home Health, 15%
Assist Residents, 12%
Patients, 11%
Vital Signs, 6%
RCA, 5%

Common direct care provider skills

CPR, 24%
Developmental Disabilities, 23%
Mental Health, 5%
Direct Care, 4%
Intellectual Disabilities, 4%
Home Health, 4%

Resident Care Aide vs. similar jobs

Resident Care Aide related careers

Resident Care Aide related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Personal Care and Attendants Industry
Resident Care Aide
Resident Care Aide vs Direct Care Provider

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs