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The differences between patent agents and bankruptcy specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a patent agent and a bankruptcy specialist. Additionally, a patent agent has an average salary of $65,466, which is higher than the $35,498 average annual salary of a bankruptcy specialist.
The top three skills for a patent agent include intellectual property, patent prosecution and law firm. The most important skills for a bankruptcy specialist are relief, pacer, and foreclosure.
| Patent Agent | Bankruptcy Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,466 | $35,498 |
| Hourly rate | $31.47 | $17.07 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 25,562 | 4,381 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A patent agent is responsible for monitoring the intellectual property rights of an existing patent invention and ensuring that new applications would not coincide with any registered patent. Patent agents handle the application processes and document verification for individuals or the government. They conduct in-depth research and discuss the process with the investors and inform them of any restrictions on issuance. A patent agent must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in performing duties and resolving issues timely and efficiently.
The bankruptcy specialist is responsible for filing and documentation loan bankruptcy materials with the appropriate attorneys. They ensure full compliance with loan bankruptcy regulations and monitor accounts throughout the loan bankruptcy process to contact the appropriate party when necessary. A bankruptcy specialist might be an administrator or lawyer in a bankruptcy office and supports bankruptcy law. They are likely to evaluate state declaration and affidavits for legal progression, interact with customers and outside counsel about bankruptcy proceedings through written and verbal communication, and work with local counsel and upper management in effectively reviewing client's files.
Patent agents and bankruptcy specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Patent Agent | Bankruptcy Specialist | |
| Average salary | $65,466 | $35,498 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $124,000 | Between $27,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Norfolk, VA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner | The PNC Financial Services Group |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Finance |
There are a few differences between a patent agent and a bankruptcy specialist in terms of educational background:
| Patent Agent | Bankruptcy Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between patent agents' and bankruptcy specialists' demographics:
| Patent Agent | Bankruptcy Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5% | Male, 31.0% Female, 69.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 6.5% White, 75.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |