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The differences between residential aides and direct care counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct care counselor has an average salary of $33,422, which is higher than the $26,176 average annual salary of a residential aide.
The top three skills for a residential aide include autism, developmental disabilities and compassion. The most important skills for a direct care counselor are crisis intervention, autism, and CPR.
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Yearly Salary | $26,176 | $33,422 |
| Hourly rate | $12.58 | $16.07 |
| Growth Rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number Of Jobs | 74,826 | 123,519 |
| Job Satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average Age | 48 | 48 |
| Years Of Experience | - | - |
A residential aide is responsible for assisting residents and patients in a community facility, supporting them in their daily activities and personal routines. Residential aides monitor the patients' health conditions, coordinate with medical professionals, and ensure that they receive the proper medications. They also assist the residents with their inquiries and concerns, as well as developing community programs and events, sustaining the healthy welfare of the citizens. A residential aide must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially when communicating with management and other organizations for assistance on charity works.
A direct care counselor provides direct counseling and assistance to the elderly or individuals with disabilities and mental issues. They usually work at rehabilitation centers or care facilities and work together with nurses or caregivers to administer different treatment plans, monitor and support the patients' progress, and help the patients carry out daily activities such as performing hygienic or routine living tasks. Moreover, a direct care counselor may also develop and implement various healthcare programs and recreational activities while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.
Residential aides and direct care counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Average Salary | $26,176 | $33,422 |
| Salary Range | Between $20,000 And $33,000 | Between $22,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest Paying City | Beverly, MA | - |
| Highest Paying State | Massachusetts | - |
| Best Paying Company | Mercy Housing and Shelter | - |
| Best Paying Industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a residential aide and a direct care counselor in terms of educational background:
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most Common Major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most Common College | - | - |
Here are the differences between residential aides' and direct care counselors' demographics:
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Counselor | |
| Average Age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender Ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| Race Ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.1% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |