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Health specialist vs safety assistant

The differences between health specialists and safety assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a health specialist and a safety assistant. Additionally, a health specialist has an average salary of $47,740, which is higher than the $38,077 average annual salary of a safety assistant.

The top three skills for a health specialist include patients, health education and public health. The most important skills for a safety assistant are patients, patient care, and patient safety.

Health specialist vs safety assistant overview

Health SpecialistSafety Assistant
Yearly salary$47,740$38,077
Hourly rate$22.95$18.31
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs72,46313,994
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a health specialist do?

A health specialist is primarily responsible for the health and welfare care of patients in a community or medical facility. They are also responsible for providing consultations, conducting assessments and examinations, providing prescriptions, and recommending care methods. A health specialist may also diagnose and treat ailments and injuries, coordinate with other health experts, and discuss conditions with patients and their families. Furthermore, a health specialist may participate in public discussions to raise awareness of health issues and lifestyles.

What does a safety assistant do?

Safety assistants help safety managers create and execute safety protocols. Typical duties include examining work areas, locating hazardous elements as well as keeping up with safety manuals and guidelines. Also, they interview injured employees, maintain first aid centers, and probe work safety incidents. Additionally, they direct regular audits with safety mentors to make certain that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies and procedures are followed. Primary job qualifications include knowledge in safety protocols, detail-oriented, organizational skills, teamwork, and time management. Another important requirement in this field is training in occupational hazards.

Health specialist vs safety assistant salary

Health specialists and safety assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health SpecialistSafety Assistant
Average salary$47,740$38,077
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $72,000Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAFairbanks, AK
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyCity of SeattleCapco
Best paying industryGovernmentManufacturing

Differences between health specialist and safety assistant education

There are a few differences between a health specialist and a safety assistant in terms of educational background:

Health SpecialistSafety Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Health specialist vs safety assistant demographics

Here are the differences between health specialists' and safety assistants' demographics:

Health SpecialistSafety Assistant
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 33.3% Female, 66.7%Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.7% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between health specialist and safety assistant duties and responsibilities

Health specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and maintain medical and legal case files in compliance with HIPAA.
  • Hire, manage payroll and provide oversight for research and administrative assistants.
  • Provide and coordinate a wide range of rehabilitation counseling and case management services to disable veterans and other eligible individuals.
  • Coordinate and facilitate workgroup and committee meetings.
  • Assist in running a life skills group for young adults with autism.
  • Work one-on-one with an individual who have autism and are visually impair.
  • Show more

Safety assistant example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and manage training records relate to MSHA compliance, ATF compliance and company-requir training.
  • Manage and facilitate extensive Safety/Security and HAZMAT training for all personnel.
  • Assist patients with daily hygiene, also assist nurses with patients periodically; distributing medication and direct observation
  • Work as one-to-one patient safety assistant worker providing supervision to patients who suffer from physical, mental and psychological conditions.
  • Organize CPR trainings and hearing tests for employees.
  • Train in the use of the Autopulse CPR machine.
  • Show more

Health specialist vs safety assistant skills

Common health specialist skills
  • Patients, 12%
  • Health Education, 8%
  • Public Health, 8%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • Veterans, 5%
  • Technical Assistance, 5%
Common safety assistant skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Patient Care, 11%
  • Patient Safety, 10%
  • CPR, 8%
  • OSHA, 5%
  • Safety Audits, 4%

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