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The differences between assessment specialists and mental health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assessment specialist and a mental health specialist. Additionally, an assessment specialist has an average salary of $64,402, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.
The top three skills for an assessment specialist include social work, patients and edition. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $64,402 | $47,321 |
| Hourly rate | $30.96 | $22.75 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 90,625 | 131,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An assessment specialist is an administrative professional who is responsible for designing and conducting assessment tests for a variety of academic clients. Assessment specialists are required to coordinate and implement the student testing program, which includes assessing an individual child's needs, potentials, and limitations. They must monitor special education or talent and gifted (TAG) staff to ensure that objectives are met. Assessment specialists must also need to know state laws and federal that pertain to educational assessments.
A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.
Assessment specialists and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $64,402 | $47,321 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $86,000 | Between $31,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between an assessment specialist and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between assessment specialists' and mental health specialists' demographics:
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |