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The differences between early intervention specialists and service 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 a service counselor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an early intervention specialist has an average salary of $46,103, which is higher than the $35,402 average annual salary of a service counselor.
The top three skills for an early intervention specialist include early intervention, developmental disabilities and applied behavior analysis. The most important skills for a service counselor are social work, crisis intervention, and patients.
| Early Intervention Specialist | Service Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $46,103 | $35,402 |
| Hourly rate | $22.16 | $17.02 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 22,033 | 44,284 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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.
Service counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials. Their duties include inspiring clients to talk about their emotions and experiences, helping them determine their action plans and goals, as well as designing therapeutic methods. Also, they may refer their clients to other services or psychologists.
Early intervention specialists and service counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Early Intervention Specialist | Service Counselor | |
| Average salary | $46,103 | $35,402 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $70,000 | Between $24,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between an early intervention specialist and a service counselor in terms of educational background:
| Early Intervention Specialist | Service Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between early intervention specialists' and service counselors' demographics:
| Early Intervention Specialist | Service Counselor | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.0% Female, 87.0% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.1% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |