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The differences between immigration specialists and contract attorneys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an immigration specialist and a contract attorney. Additionally, a contract attorney has an average salary of $97,474, which is higher than the $58,674 average annual salary of an immigration specialist.
The top three skills for an immigration specialist include HR, immigration counsel and immigration law. The most important skills for a contract attorney are litigation, e-discovery, and legal research.
| Immigration Specialist | Contract Attorney | |
| Yearly salary | $58,674 | $97,474 |
| Hourly rate | $28.21 | $46.86 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 4,165 | 13,592 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
To be an immigration specialist is to be at the center of all things foreign. Immigration specialists are tasked with assisting foreign nationals with the nitty-gritty of immigration and immigration procedures. They lead immigration programs, ensure all paperwork required both from immigration and Visa applications is completed, and process tax treaty evaluations. They are ultimately in charge of enforcing compliance with all immigration rules and regulations.
A contract attorney is responsible for handling their clients' legal issues and settling cases by researching, analyzing, and collecting essential files that would support the clients' claims. Contract attorneys usually work for private clients without being permanently employed in a law firm or government agency. Contract attorneys represent clients at court, assist with law proceedings, and advise clients for the necessary legal procedures. A contract attorney must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to manage client legal matters and expertise in traditional disciplines and processes.
Immigration specialists and contract attorneys have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Immigration Specialist | Contract Attorney | |
| Average salary | $58,674 | $97,474 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $102,000 | Between $60,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cambridge, MA | San Ramon, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Atlassian | Perkins Coie |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between an immigration specialist and a contract attorney in terms of educational background:
| Immigration Specialist | Contract Attorney | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Doctoral Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Law |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between immigration specialists' and contract attorneys' demographics:
| Immigration Specialist | Contract Attorney | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.8% Female, 75.2% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 75.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |