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Support worker vs residential instructor

The differences between support workers and residential instructors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a support worker has an average salary of $37,039, which is higher than the $29,695 average annual salary of a residential instructor.

The top three skills for a support worker include social work, crisis intervention and treatment plan. The most important skills for a residential instructor are direct care, autism, and data collection.

Support worker vs residential instructor overview

Support WorkerResidential Instructor
Yearly salary$37,039$29,695
Hourly rate$17.81$14.28
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs112,75460,002
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4726
Years of experience6-

Support worker vs residential instructor salary

Support workers and residential instructors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Support WorkerResidential Instructor
Average salary$37,039$29,695
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $60,000Between $22,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBell, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkNorth Dakota
Best paying companyDolby LaboratoriesBoston Higashi School
Best paying industryManufacturingEducation

Differences between support worker and residential instructor education

There are a few differences between a support worker and a residential instructor in terms of educational background:

Support WorkerResidential Instructor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Support worker vs residential instructor demographics

Here are the differences between support workers' and residential instructors' demographics:

Support WorkerResidential Instructor
Average age4726
Gender ratioMale, 29.1% Female, 70.9%Male, 29.8% Female, 70.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 7.3% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%13%

Differences between support worker and residential instructor duties and responsibilities

Support worker example responsibilities.

  • Lead support groups with an emphasis on recovery and strength base techniques, DBT, CBT, self-care and coping skills.
  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Develop and implement work plans for TANF customers according to federal requirements.
  • Recognize risk factors quickly, collaborate with interdisciplinary team, nurture positive relationships with patients through consistency and modeling healthy boundaries.
  • Shop for groceries and assist consumer with preparing meals.
  • Compile and update medical information for each individual serve while following HIPPA protocol.
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Residential instructor example responsibilities.

  • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
  • Participate in monthly ISP meetings regarding status and progress of each individual consumer.
  • Complete daily ADL s with clients per POC provide by behaviorists, therapists, etc.
  • Assist clients with all ADL's (activities of daily living), as needed while promoting independence.
  • Maintain documentation for administrating medication, daily logs, ISP information and other require data.
  • Engage, educate and empower participants to access community base resources in order to achieve greater self-determination, rehabilitation and recovery.
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Support worker vs residential instructor skills

Common support worker skills
  • Social Work, 18%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Treatment Plan, 7%
  • Social Services, 6%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%
  • Foster Care, 5%
Common residential instructor skills
  • Direct Care, 10%
  • Autism, 7%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 6%
  • Direct Supervision, 6%
  • Community Integration, 5%

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