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The differences between early intervention specialists and alcohol and drug counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an early intervention specialist, becoming an alcohol and drug counselor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an early intervention specialist has an average salary of $46,103, which is higher than the $45,758 average annual salary of an alcohol and drug counselor.
The top three skills for an early intervention specialist include early intervention, developmental disabilities and applied behavior analysis. The most important skills for an alcohol and drug counselor are patients, social work, and crisis intervention.
| Early Intervention Specialist | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $46,103 | $45,758 |
| Hourly rate | $22.16 | $22.00 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 22,033 | 77,461 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Early intervention specialists are responsible for determining and helping youth who are manifesting deficiencies in the fundamental areas of learning. They are trained teachers who work with youngsters between birth and age four to direct developmental impediments. Also, they have an essential role in bridging children and their families with other social service workers. Their jobs include carefully evaluating the child, establishing developmental goals, creating medication plans, recommending learning activities, and keeping track of the child's progress.
A drug & alcohol counselor treats addicts in either one-on-one or group settings. They help by educating and developing possible treatment plans for patients to support them in coping with their addictive personalities. A drug and alcohol counselor will evaluate to determine the progress has been successfully made towards recovery. They help patients better understand and overcome their addictions. Counselors help through offering support, rehabilitation, and guidance by using various techniques. Drug & alcohol counselors seek to help an addict find the source of their addiction.
Early intervention specialists and alcohol and drug counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Early Intervention Specialist | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Average salary | $46,103 | $45,758 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $70,000 | Between $30,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | Montage Health |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between an early intervention specialist and an alcohol and drug counselor in terms of educational background:
| Early Intervention Specialist | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between early intervention specialists' and alcohol and drug counselors' demographics:
| Early Intervention Specialist | Alcohol And Drug Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |