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The differences between connectors and youth development professionals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a connector, becoming a youth development professional takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a connector has an average salary of $49,110, which is higher than the $43,758 average annual salary of a youth development professional.
The top three skills for a connector include community resources, care management and social work. The most important skills for a youth development professional are youth development, direct care, and productive relationships.
| Connector | Youth Development Professional | |
| Yearly salary | $49,110 | $43,758 |
| Hourly rate | $23.61 | $21.04 |
| Growth rate | -4% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 5,774 | 91,372 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Connectors work with individuals to integrate them into the community. They help these people build skills and develop goals. Their job is to engage people to serve in community activities that are meaningful to them. They meet with their supervisors and other team members for new techniques and activities they can use in different cases. Ensuring that the goals they set for these individuals are appropriate, met, and implemented is also part of their job.
Youth Development Professionals are specialists in implementing and overseeing programs to help adolescents discover their abilities and interests. They are responsible for coordinating career days and field trips, organizing mentorship sessions, create youth outreach projects, and assisting community organizations in youth provision development. Other duties include supporting the training of volunteer youth workers as well as ensuring service provided adheres to professional standards and current regulations. A Youth Development Professional may specialize in a specific development sector, such as healthy living, experiential learning, or public service.
Connectors and youth development professionals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Connector | Youth Development Professional | |
| Average salary | $49,110 | $43,758 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $79,000 | Between $20,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | MUFG EMEA |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between a connector and a youth development professional in terms of educational background:
| Connector | Youth Development Professional | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between connectors' and youth development professionals' demographics:
| Connector | Youth Development Professional | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2% | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 7.8% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 10% |