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The differences between career development specialists and career developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a career development specialist has an average salary of $46,744, which is higher than the $45,445 average annual salary of a career developer.
The top three skills for a career development specialist include professional development, community resources and mock interviews. The most important skills for a career developer are leadership development, career development, and leadership.
| Career Development Specialist | Career Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $46,744 | $45,445 |
| Hourly rate | $22.47 | $21.85 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 63,137 | 80,503 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | - |
A career development specialist helps clients accomplish their short and long-term career goals by providing guidance and counseling. They usually meet with clients to identify their needs and career goals, conduct skills assessments, and help them connect with potential employers. They may also assist job seekers by answering inquiries, helping them develop their resumes, training them for interviews, and assisting them in their pursuit of finding new jobs. Moreover, besides providing support, a career development specialist also helps clients build their confidence and resolve issues if any arise.
A career developer helps individuals in developing strategies for career growth. Most career developers work at learning institutions where they help students find career opportunities. Typically, their responsibilities include conducting interviews and assessments to identify the students' career goals, providing advice and insights, reaching out to external parties on behalf of the students, and referring students to various services. Moreover, a career developer must encourage students to reach their goals and potentials, building their confidence along the way.
Career development specialists and career developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Career Development Specialist | Career Developer | |
| Average salary | $46,744 | $45,445 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $67,000 | Between $29,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Boston Consulting Group | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a career development specialist and a career developer in terms of educational background:
| Career Development Specialist | Career Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between career development specialists' and career developers' demographics:
| Career Development Specialist | Career Developer | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% | Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |