Description
Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation). May also provide help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry. Work is performed in various settings depending on the needs of the care recipient and may include locations such as their home, place of work, out in the community, or at a daytime nonresidential facility.
Interests
- Social
- Conventional
- Realistic
Work Values
- Relationships
- Support
- Achievement
Work Styles
- Concern for Others
- Cooperation
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
Tasks
- Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.
- Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.
- Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.
- Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.
- Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Getting Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Training and Teaching Others
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Detailed Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Performing General Physical Activities - Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Technology Skills
- Medical software
- Computer based training software
- Electronic mail software
- Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
- Video conferencing software
Skills
- Service Orientation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Transportation
- Education and Training
- Psychology
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Direct Support Professional Specialist - Health SupportCertifying Organization
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Direct Support Professional - Certified-IICertifying Organization
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
Type
Core
Certificate name
Direct Support Professional - Specialist - InclusionCertifying Organization
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Nationally Certified Patient Care TechnicianCertifying Organization
National Center for Competency Testing
Type
Core
Certificate name
Direct Support Professional Certified-ICertifying Organization
National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
Type
Core
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $NaN |
| Median (50%) | $NaN |
| High (90%) | $NaN |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–7 years), to senior level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | $50,000 |
| Mid Level | $100,000 |
| Senior Level | $150,000 |
Employability
There are currently 3,961,900 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 4,782,400 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 21%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 21%
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), with ONET® being a registered trademark of USDOL/ETA. Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA; CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED); and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Career Resources
Search All Careers
Compare Careers
Income Outlook
Career Pathways
Career Clusters
Job Suite Home
CVs
Resumes
Cover Letters
Templates
Job Resources
Blog Articles
Podcast