Also called: DSP, Disability Support Worker
Helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with daily life, work, and community activities.
Helps a young man with Down syndrome cook breakfast in his group home, goes with him to his grocery store job, and takes him bowling with friends in the evening.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma plus state-required training.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Human Services, Special Education.
Growing much faster than average (about 17% over 10 years). Personal care aides overall.
Low risk for 10 years. Helping someone cook, get to work and enjoy bowling is hands-on support AI and robots can't replace.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply to disability service agencies; they run the background check and starter training First: Background check plus CPR and the agency's starter training (a week or two)
Classes: Health, Family and consumer sciences, Psychology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 31-1122.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.