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The differences between assessment specialists and mental health therapists 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 therapist. Additionally, an assessment specialist has an average salary of $64,402, which is higher than the $50,259 average annual salary of a mental health therapist.
The top three skills for an assessment specialist include social work, patients and edition. The most important skills for a mental health therapist are social work, patients, and mental health.
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $64,402 | $50,259 |
| Hourly rate | $30.96 | $24.16 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 90,625 | 114,386 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| 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.
The job of mental health therapists is to guide individuals, groups, couples, and families with problems that are impacting their well-being and mental health. Their duties and responsibilities include encouraging clients to talk about their experiences, examining issues that may affect mental health such as substance abuse and bullying, and assisting clients in defining their goals and action plans. Mental health therapists are also responsible for developing therapeutic processes, referring clients to other services or resources like psychologists, and helping them adjust to life changes.
Assessment specialists and mental health therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average salary | $64,402 | $50,259 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $86,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Tykes And Teens |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an assessment specialist and a mental health therapist in terms of educational background:
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between assessment specialists' and mental health therapists' demographics:
| Assessment Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.6% Female, 68.4% | Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7% |
| 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% |