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The differences between disability specialists and mental health consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a disability specialist, becoming a mental health consultant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health consultant has an average salary of $51,006, which is higher than the $48,662 average annual salary of a disability specialist.
The top three skills for a disability specialist include social work, rehabilitation and developmental disabilities. The most important skills for a mental health consultant are healthcare, substance abuse, and patients.
| Disability Specialist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $48,662 | $51,006 |
| Hourly rate | $23.40 | $24.52 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 24,669 | 127,233 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
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 mental health consultant is responsible for providing counseling and emotional support to manage a client's issue and control behaviors. Mental health consultants must have excellent communication and listening skills to understand and assess the client's situation and evaluate the level of their emotional and psychological distress. They also need to monitor progress on the client's state and use different psychotherapy methods and treatment plans. A mental health consultant should also reach out to other health professionals to ask assistance for any recovery options as needed.
Disability specialists and mental health consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Disability Specialist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Average salary | $48,662 | $51,006 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $80,000 | Between $34,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | California |
| Best paying company | Stanford University | Guidehouse |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a disability specialist and a mental health consultant in terms of educational background:
| Disability Specialist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between disability specialists' and mental health consultants' demographics:
| Disability Specialist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.7% Female, 76.3% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 15% |