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What is an early intervention specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

An early intervention specialist works with children who have developmental delays or disabilities. They support families and caregivers by developing and implementing individualized plans for young children to improve their abilities. Early intervention specialists may work in settings including homes, schools, and clinics. They work with speech therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers to ensure that the child receives the best possible care. Early intervention specialists help children achieve their potential and reach developmental milestones.

ScoreEarly Intervention SpecialistUS Average
Salary
3.6

Avg. Salary $46,103

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.51%

Asian 2.67%

Black or African American 13.37%

Hispanic or Latino 15.12%

Unknown 4.19%

White 63.14%

Gender

female 87.02%

male 12.98%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.5

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an early intervention specialist?

Pros

  • Having a diverse caseload

  • Flexibility in scheduling and work location

  • Being a part of a supportive team

  • Working in a rewarding and fulfilling field

  • Helping children reach their full potential

Cons

  • High stress environment

  • Paperwork and documentation requirements can be overwhelming

  • Limited resources and funding for early intervention services

  • Difficulties in obtaining insurance coverage for services

  • Low pay compared to other professions with similar education levels

Early intervention specialist career paths

Key steps to become an early intervention specialist

  1. Explore early intervention specialist education requirements

    Most common early intervention specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.5 %

    Master's

    20.8 %

    Associate

    7.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific early intervention specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Early Intervention16.96%
    Developmental Disabilities11.36%
    Applied Behavior Analysis9.03%
    Child Development7.00%
    Social Development6.63%
  3. Complete relevant early intervention specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New early intervention specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an early intervention specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real early intervention specialist resumes.
  4. Research early intervention specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Experience training new staff on basic ABA principles and new cases.
    • Strive to reduce symptoms of specify developmental disorder, usually an autism spectrum disorder.
    • Train paraprofessionals to work with children on the autism spectrum and implement picture schedules for optimal learning.
    • Instruct families on how to use adaptive equipment or help them use the tool in their environment.
  5. Prepare your early intervention specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your early intervention specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an early intervention specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable early intervention specialist resume templates

    Build a professional early intervention specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your early intervention specialist resume.
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
    Early Intervention Specialist Resume
  6. Apply for early intervention specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an early intervention specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first early intervention specialist job

Zippi

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Average early intervention specialist salary

The average early intervention specialist salary in the United States is $46,103 per year or $22 per hour. Early intervention specialist salaries range between $30,000 and $70,000 per year.

Average early intervention specialist salary
$46,103 Yearly
$22.16 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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