CAREER SNAPSHOT
Summary
A caregiver provides physical care and emotional support to a person who can no longer care for him/herself.
Career Level
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Salary
National average, per year
$23,130
JOB OPENINGS
Current national estimate
91,990
DEMAND OUTLOOK
Actual salaries can vary substantially based on region, job description and employer expectations; does not include additional compensation. Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticcs.
By Raising Careers Staff | Updated: May 2019
OVERVIEW
Caregiver Job Description
Caregivers provide non-medical care and support to people who can no longer take care of themselves. This may be due to illness, advanced age or disability.
Caregivers assist people with basic daily needs such as bathing, toileting and eating. They provide emotional support and companionship. They may transport the person to doctor’s appointments or to the grocery store. They also help with mobility. They often assist with housekeeping and meal preparation.
Being a caregiver is often a great beginning step to a career in the healthcare field. Caregivers have an excellent job outlook and can begin working with very little advanced education or training.
Caregiver Job Responsibilities
Caregivers may perform the following job duties. Actual duties may vary by job and location.
- Assist with personal hygiene
- Provide companionship
- Housekeeping
- Prepare meals
- Assist with personal care
- Provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores
- Help with mobility
- Assess medical needs
- Document and report changes in health
Caregiver Salary
The actual salary of the caregiver can vary substantially depending on region, job description and employer expectations. Most recent data shown.
National average per year: $23,130*
National average per hour: $11.12*
- $26,166 per year, $12.58 per hour**
- $23,505 per year, $11.30 per hour***
- $26,623 per year, $12.80 per hour****
- $23,831 per year, $11.46 per hour*****
* Bureau of Labor Statics
** Indeed.com
*** Payscale.com
**** Ziprecruiter.com
***** Glassdoor.com
Caregiver Career Pros and Cons
What are the ups and downs of being a caregiver? Here are a few items to keep in mind.
Pros
- Excellent job outlook
- Start a job quickly with little training
- Rewarding to help others
- May form close bonds with your patients
Cons
- Entry-level salary
- Can be emotionally stressful
- Can be physically demanding
- May have to deal with difficult or uncooperative patients and/or family members
CAREER PATH AND TRAINING
How Do I Become a Caregiver?
If you are considering a career as a caregiver, these are the steps to take to get you started.
- Get your high school diploma or GED (not required for all positions, but highly recommended).
- Get certified in CPR (not required but highly recommended)
- If you would like to be able to provide medical care, you would need further education to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Home Healthcare Aide or Medical Assistant .
Suggested Career Path
The position of the caregiver is at the beginning of the medical career pathway. A sample career path could look like this:
Caregiver > Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) > Registered Nurse (RN)
Typical Minimum Education
Actual requirements may vary by state. Please check with your state government.
- High school diploma/GED
- CPR certification highly recommended
Typical Work Experience Required
No work experience required to start. On-the-job training provided.
Typical Skills Required
Common skills listed. Actual skills required may vary by job and location.
- Good listening and communication skills
- Empathy and compassion
- Patience
- Positivity
- Keen observation skills
Caregiver Certifications
Certification in CPR is not required but highly recommended.
- CPR, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, First Aid, AED (AHA)
- CPR, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (American Red Cross)
Click on the certifications to find out more.
Caregiver Licenses
None
Caregiver Training and Preparation
Caregivers most often provide non-medical care to patients. In general, caregivers who help with the tasks of daily living, such as cooking, housekeeping, companionship, and personal care, typically do not need to be certified in order to work.
CPR certification is not required, but some employers do prefer caregivers who have this. There are many ways to obtain CPR certification. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association both offer options for certification. They offer online courses, blended courses and traditional classroom setting training.
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