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The differences between implementation specialists and specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an implementation specialist and a specialist. Additionally, a specialist has an average salary of $58,013, which is higher than the $56,545 average annual salary of an implementation specialist.
The top three skills for an implementation specialist include client expectations, customer service and business processes. The most important skills for a specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.
| Implementation Specialist | Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,545 | $58,013 |
| Hourly rate | $27.19 | $27.89 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 50,975 | 358,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
As the name entails, implementation specialists perform tasks related to the implementation of computer software and hardware, technical systems, or solutions. They are responsible for identifying clients' needs and determining how they will use the software or systems that they have acquired. They may also assist clients in setting up their equipment and perform additional tasks such as importing client data, creating customized reports, and modifying metrics. There are certain skills and qualifications to be considered to apply for this role, which includes a bachelor's degree in business, in-depth technical knowledge, and problem-solving skills.
Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.
Implementation specialists and specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Implementation Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,545 | $58,013 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $87,000 | Between $32,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between an implementation specialist and a specialist in terms of educational background:
| Implementation Specialist | Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between implementation specialists' and specialists' demographics:
| Implementation Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.3% Female, 50.7% | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 10.7% White, 55.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |