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The differences between senior caregivers 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 $28,771 average annual salary of a senior caregiver.
The top three skills for a senior caregiver include companionship, senior care and in-home care. The most important skills for a direct care staffer are mental health, developmental disabilities, and CPR.
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Yearly salary | $28,771 | $30,480 |
| Hourly rate | $13.83 | $14.65 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 67,227 | 117,658 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A senior caregiver is responsible for supporting the elderly, disabled patients, and other persons with illnesses or has difficulty managing themselves alone and assist them with their daily activities. Senior caregivers monitor the patients' behaviors, keep records of health conditions, administer medications, and prepare the patients for medical procedures. They also coordinate with the attending physicians and other medical health professionals in developing quality care plans and services for the patients, following the standard procedures and health safety requirements.
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.
Senior caregivers and direct care staffers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Average salary | $28,771 | $30,480 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $37,000 | Between $19,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Salem, OR |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Oregon |
| Best paying company | CARE | New York University |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a senior caregiver and a direct care staffer in terms of educational background:
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between senior caregivers' and direct care staffers' demographics:
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Care Staffer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.2% Female, 87.8% | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 8.0% White, 56.4% 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% |