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The differences between disability specialists and developmental 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 disability specialist and a developmental specialist. Additionally, a disability specialist has an average salary of $48,662, which is higher than the $42,829 average annual salary of a developmental specialist.
The top three skills for a disability specialist include social work, rehabilitation and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for a developmental specialist are social work, developmental disabilities, and autism.
| Disability Specialist | Developmental Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $48,662 | $42,829 |
| Hourly rate | $23.40 | $20.59 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 24,669 | 7,776 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A disability examiner is primarily in charge of conducting assessments and examinations to determine an applicant's eligibility for disability benefits and programs. Their duties usually include reviewing medical and health records, conducting interviews, and evaluating applications. There are also times when a disability examiner must directly coordinate with healthcare providers to obtain and assess records. Moreover, as a disability examiner, it is essential to assist clients by answering inquiries, providing instructions and advice, and helping them understand the extent of procedures.
A developmental specialist typically works in the human resources department. Your job involves training employees and encouraging their peers to participate. Other duties include evaluating the company's HR and training programs, identifying the best type of training to ensure employee and company success, and designing and developing employee discussions, simulations, and exercises. In addition, you are expected to network with prospective donors and look for new funding sources. You are also expected to promote the organization's cause or work through advertisements, soirees, and literature.
Disability specialists and developmental specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Disability Specialist | Developmental Specialist | |
| Average salary | $48,662 | $42,829 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $80,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Stanford University | UMass Memorial Health |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a disability specialist and a developmental specialist in terms of educational background:
| Disability Specialist | Developmental Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between disability specialists' and developmental specialists' demographics:
| Disability Specialist | Developmental Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.7% Female, 76.3% | Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.8% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 58.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |