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The differences between career development specialists and employment specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a career development specialist, becoming an employment specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a career development specialist has an average salary of $46,744, which is higher than the $39,530 average annual salary of an employment specialist.
The top three skills for a career development specialist include professional development, community resources and mock interviews. The most important skills for an employment specialist are customer service, rehabilitation, and mental health.
| Career Development Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,744 | $39,530 |
| Hourly rate | $22.47 | $19.00 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 63,137 | 59,757 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
An employment specialist deals with job applicants to match their talents to a specific job that properly suits them. Employment specialists assist applicants or the unemployed by testing their skills, conducting mock interviews, and creating a proper resume. They can work separately within a company or be part of the human resources department to assist in the hiring process. Employment specialists are often tasked to handle company layoffs and act as the liaison officer between the employer and the Department of Labor.
Career development specialists and employment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Career Development Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $46,744 | $39,530 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $67,000 | Between $29,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Boston Consulting Group | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a career development specialist and an employment specialist in terms of educational background:
| Career Development Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between career development specialists' and employment specialists' demographics:
| Career Development Specialist | Employment Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% | Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 7.7% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 9% |