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The differences between support associates and direct support associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a support associate has an average salary of $47,039, which is higher than the $29,934 average annual salary of a direct support associate.
The top three skills for a support associate include sales floor, computer system and POS. The most important skills for a direct support associate are intellectual disabilities, emotional support, and developmental disabilities.
| Support Associate | Direct Support Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $47,039 | $29,934 |
| Hourly rate | $22.61 | $14.39 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 36% |
| Number of jobs | 100,892 | 111,451 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
The primary role of sales support associates is to help sales staff and customers during the sales process. A sales support associate also performs other tasks that include maintaining positive customer relations, responding to customers' requests for quotes, information, and specifications, and, initiating contact with prospective customers. They are also responsible for coordinating proposals, sales literature production, and presentations. Requirements for this position include a high school diploma or general education development, administrative and communication skills, and organizational skills.
Direct Support Associates are responsible for aiding individuals with developmental, mental, or physical disabilities in their daily living activities. Their duties include administering prescribed medications, coach patients to develop money management, housekeeping, and social skills, and provide feedback to patients in areas of improvement. They are also involved in supervising skills-building activities, meal preparations, schedule organization, and produces patient progress report. Direct Support Associates also maintain a supportive relationship with the client to foster social engagement and community inclusion.
Support associates and direct support associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Support Associate | Direct Support Associate | |
| Average salary | $47,039 | $29,934 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $83,000 | Between $16,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Apollo Global Management | The Carlyle Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a support associate and a direct support associate in terms of educational background:
| Support Associate | Direct Support Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between support associates' and direct support associates' demographics:
| Support Associate | Direct Support Associate | |
| Average age | 42 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3% | Male, 26.2% Female, 73.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 8.8% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |