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The differences between senior caregivers and direct support staff can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct support staff has an average salary of $31,268, 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 support staff are direct support, direct care, and transport clients.
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Support Staff | |
| Yearly salary | $28,771 | $31,268 |
| Hourly rate | $13.83 | $15.03 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 67,227 | 182,001 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| 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.
The direct support staff is an individual who takes responsibility for the overall care of people with developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals work directly with developmental illness patients in long-term health care facilities. They perform their jobs as home health and companion care providers who assist their clients in their daily movements and actions. It is their duty to ensure the comfort and safety of their clients. Also, they encourage behaviors and attitudes which strengthen community inclusion.
Senior caregivers and direct support staff have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Support Staff | |
| Average salary | $28,771 | $31,268 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $37,000 | Between $18,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Santa Maria, CA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | California |
| Best paying company | CARE | Rockwell Medical |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a senior caregiver and a direct support staff in terms of educational background:
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Support Staff | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between senior caregivers' and direct support staff' demographics:
| Senior Caregiver | Direct Support Staff | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.2% Female, 87.8% | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 8.0% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |