Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between mental health specialists and health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a mental health specialist, becoming a health specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a health specialist has an average salary of $47,740, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.
The top three skills for a mental health specialist include patients, social work and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a health specialist are patients, health education, and public health.
| Mental Health Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $47,321 | $47,740 |
| Hourly rate | $22.75 | $22.95 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 131,449 | 72,463 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.
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.
Mental health specialists and health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mental Health Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $47,321 | $47,740 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $71,000 | Between $31,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc | City of Seattle |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a mental health specialist and a health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Mental Health Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between mental health specialists' and health specialists' demographics:
| Mental Health Specialist | Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 7% |