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Direct service professional vs habilitation specialist

The differences between direct service professionals and habilitation specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct service professional has an average salary of $114,053, which is higher than the $34,597 average annual salary of a habilitation specialist.

The top three skills for a direct service professional include direct care, CPR and mental health. The most important skills for a habilitation specialist are developmental disabilities, CPR, and behavioral issues.

Direct service professional vs habilitation specialist overview

Direct Service ProfessionalHabilitation Specialist
Yearly salary$114,053$34,597
Hourly rate$54.83$16.63
Growth rate36%12%
Number of jobs60,02082,124
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4843
Years of experience-12

Direct service professional vs habilitation specialist salary

Direct service professionals and habilitation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Direct Service ProfessionalHabilitation Specialist
Average salary$114,053$34,597
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $188,000Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City-Spokane, WA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-New York State Restaurant Association
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between direct service professional and habilitation specialist education

There are a few differences between a direct service professional and a habilitation specialist in terms of educational background:

Direct Service ProfessionalHabilitation Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common college-California State University - Long Beach

Direct service professional vs habilitation specialist demographics

Here are the differences between direct service professionals' and habilitation specialists' demographics:

Direct Service ProfessionalHabilitation Specialist
Average age4843
Gender ratioMale, 32.3% Female, 67.7%Male, 28.2% Female, 71.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 8.3% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 6.6% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage7%11%

Differences between direct service professional and habilitation specialist duties and responsibilities

Direct service professional example responsibilities.

  • Assist consumers with their ADL skills, such as showering, administering medications, and laundry.
  • Ensure completion of ISP goals, as well as input and come up with new ideas for new ISP's.
  • Administer medications, assist with ADL's, and communicate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure continuity of care
  • Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
  • Provide clients family members, DCF workers, and/or probation officers with up to date of treatment planning and progress.

Habilitation specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide client with care, assist with performing ADL's, hygiene, medication, meal preparation, cleaning, transport.
  • Assist patients with medication management, monitor blood sugars and accompany client to medical appointments.
  • Provide direct supervision, observation, security and rehabilitation of delinquent adolescent females from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
  • Complete training in first aid and CPR.
  • Assist the ISP team in creating new outcomes for consumer training/ISP.
  • Construct and maintain budget following NYS guidelines including purchase orders, funds distribution, and financial records.
  • Show more

Direct service professional vs habilitation specialist skills

Common direct service professional skills
  • Direct Care, 11%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Development Disabilities, 7%
  • Direct Support, 5%
  • DSP, 5%
Common habilitation specialist skills
  • Developmental Disabilities, 18%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Behavioral Issues, 8%
  • Intellectual Disabilities, 7%
  • Community Integration, 6%
  • OPWDD, 5%

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