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The differences between career specialists and development specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a career specialist and a development specialist. Additionally, a development specialist has an average salary of $60,344, which is higher than the $45,299 average annual salary of a career specialist.
The top three skills for a career specialist include career development, professional development and career exploration. The most important skills for a development specialist are customer service, customer satisfaction, and professional development.
| Career Specialist | Development Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $45,299 | $60,344 |
| Hourly rate | $21.78 | $29.01 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 16,353 | 97,188 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Also called workforce trainers, career specialists determine career and vocational opportunities for qualified job-searches using different assessments. Career specialists plan and implement a comprehensive career development program within the realm of student services. They assess and evaluate career development test results and use them as a guide for individuals. It is part of their job to counsel in terms of administrative tasks. Skills necessary for this job include communication, attention to detail, and career guidance.
A development specialist is responsible for monitoring career training and programs for the employees, improving their capabilities and maximum potential to contribute to the company's growth and success. Development specialists also assist in assessing departmental operations, evaluating training needs, and facilitate skill development discussions and exercises. A development specialist helps identify business opportunities to generate more revenues for the organization and improve profitability status. A development specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills and comprehensive knowledge of human management to assist employees with their inquiries and concerns.
Career specialists and development specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Career Specialist | Development Specialist | |
| Average salary | $45,299 | $60,344 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $61,000 | Between $37,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Cruz, CA | Edison, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Boston Public Schools | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a career specialist and a development specialist in terms of educational background:
| Career Specialist | Development Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between career specialists' and development specialists' demographics:
| Career Specialist | Development Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.1% Female, 68.9% | Male, 40.5% Female, 59.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 5.8% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |