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The differences between advocates and victim advocates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an advocate and a victim advocate. Additionally, an advocate has an average salary of $39,497, which is higher than the $38,628 average annual salary of a victim advocate.
The top three skills for an advocate include CPR, customer service and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for a victim advocate are crime victims, safety planning, and criminal justice.
| Advocate | Victim Advocate | |
| Yearly salary | $39,497 | $38,628 |
| Hourly rate | $18.99 | $18.57 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 74,970 | 68,084 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause. Most of the duties will vary depending on the line of organization or duty involved; however, an advocate must have extensive knowledge or background on the subject matter. Furthermore, an advocate must be present at gatherings regarding the cause, assist in the negotiation and mediation processes involving contracts and legal documentation, provide or convey accurate information, and defend what they represent.
A victim advocate provides support and assistance to crime victims, helping them cope with the difficulties of their ordeal while fighting for the justice that they deserve. As a victim advocate, they must educate victims of their legal rights, help them understand the court procedures, identify their needs through various assessments, provide counseling, coordinate resources and other services, and support the victim throughout the court proceedings. Moreover, a victim advocate may create programs and strategies that will help the victim's emotional and psychological health.
Advocates and victim advocates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advocate | Victim Advocate | |
| Average salary | $39,497 | $38,628 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $58,000 | Between $30,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New York | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | City of Baltimore |
| Best paying industry | Government | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an advocate and a victim advocate in terms of educational background:
| Advocate | Victim Advocate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between advocates' and victim advocates' demographics:
| Advocate | Victim Advocate | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3% | Male, 12.7% Female, 87.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |