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Community aide vs community support specialist

The differences between community aides and community support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a community aide and a community support specialist. Additionally, a community support specialist has an average salary of $39,320, which is higher than the $23,688 average annual salary of a community aide.

The top three skills for a community aide include developmental disabilities, CPR and autism. The most important skills for a community support specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.

Community aide vs community support specialist overview

Community AideCommunity Support Specialist
Yearly salary$23,688$39,320
Hourly rate$11.39$18.90
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs74,509111,431
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

Community aide vs community support specialist salary

Community aides and community support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community AideCommunity Support Specialist
Average salary$23,688$39,320
Salary rangeBetween $18,000 And $30,000Between $27,000 And $56,000
Highest paying CitySanta Ana, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew HampshireAlaska
Best paying companyTrinity HealthMeta
Best paying industryProfessionalNon Profits

Differences between community aide and community support specialist education

There are a few differences between a community aide and a community support specialist in terms of educational background:

Community AideCommunity Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Community aide vs community support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between community aides' and community support specialists' demographics:

Community AideCommunity Support Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 29.2% Female, 70.8%Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between community aide and community support specialist duties and responsibilities

Community aide example responsibilities.

  • Assist in managing inventory for student and staff culinary and scholastic supplies.
  • Provide relationship-base treatment plans to patients that involves high quality acute psychiatric evaluations, crisis stabilization, and intensive short-term treatment.
  • Collaborate with community health councils and other community agencies to provide programs that enhance community awareness of health and safety.

Community support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide PSR services to clients with mental illness in order to help them achieve the highest standard of living possible.
  • Review notes complete by other community support workers to assess progression towards individualize goals for patients on caseload.
  • Complete CPR and first aid training.
  • Participate in IEP meetings and academic action plans.
  • Develop new techniques to engage teenage males with autism in focuse areas of activity.
  • Provide direction to the program's register nurse and ensure compliance with OPWDD regulations.
  • Show more

Community aide vs community support specialist skills

Common community aide skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 24%
  • CPR, 22%
  • Autism, 7%
  • Behavior Management, 6%
  • Community Resources, 5%
  • Front Desk, 4%
Common community support specialist skills
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Independent Living, 5%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%

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