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The differences between residential aides and direct care staffers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct care staffer has an average salary of $30,480, 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 staffer are mental health, developmental disabilities, and CPR.
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Yearly salary | $26,176 | $30,480 |
| Hourly rate | $12.58 | $14.65 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 74,826 | 117,658 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| 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 Staffer specializes in providing personal care and supervision to the disabled or elderly. Among the responsibilities include administering medication, managing schedules, assisting in hygienic tasks, preparing meals, and doing light to moderate household chores. Furthermore, A Direct Care Staffer also helps in transportation and preparation of daily meals, running various errands, purchasing groceries and daily necessities, and as well as monitoring health conditions. It is also essential for a Daily Care Staffer to update supervisors and guardians regularly.
Residential aides and direct care staffers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Average salary | $26,176 | $30,480 |
| Salary range | Between $20,000 And $33,000 | Between $19,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beverly, MA | Salem, OR |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Mercy Housing and Shelter | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Education | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a residential aide and a direct care staffer in terms of educational background:
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 29% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between residential aides' and direct care staffers' demographics:
| Residential Aide | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% |
| 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, 10.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |