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The differences between senior caregivers and personal care workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a personal care worker has an average salary of $29,490, 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 personal care worker are patients, home health, and good communication.
| Senior Caregiver | Personal Care Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $28,771 | $29,490 |
| Hourly rate | $13.83 | $14.18 |
| Growth rate | 36% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 67,227 | 129,522 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| 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 personal care worker is responsible for providing quality health care services for elders and disabled persons. Personal care workers are usually employed in a private household setting or a special healthcare institution, assisting patients with their daily activities, and monitoring their conditions. They update the patients' medical charts, administer medication from the physician's prescriptions, and manage their food intake. A personal care worker must be highly-organized, especially when attending to patients' needs, inquiries, and concerns.
Senior caregivers and personal care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Caregiver | Personal Care Worker | |
| Average salary | $28,771 | $29,490 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $37,000 | Between $22,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Lynn, MA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | CARE | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a senior caregiver and a personal care worker in terms of educational background:
| Senior Caregiver | Personal Care Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between senior caregivers' and personal care workers' demographics:
| Senior Caregiver | Personal Care Worker | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.2% Female, 87.8% | Male, 16.4% Female, 83.6% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |