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The differences between pediatric occupational therapists and health information specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a pediatric occupational therapist and a health information specialist. Additionally, a pediatric occupational therapist has an average salary of $82,293, which is higher than the $33,343 average annual salary of a health information specialist.
The top three skills for a pediatric occupational therapist include patients, rehabilitation and patient care. The most important skills for a health information specialist are patients, HIPAA, and medical terminology.
| Pediatric Occupational Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $82,293 | $33,343 |
| Hourly rate | $39.56 | $16.03 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 90,520 | 135,448 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 40 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A pediatric occupational therapist is a health care professional who works directly with children, helping them develop essential skills and lead an active life. Part of their job is to meet with patients to identify their needs through various assessments and examinations, conduct extensive research and analyses, and create treatment plans and strategies to develop the children's cognitive and social skills, motor functions, and other abilities to help them grow healthy. Moreover, a pediatric occupational therapist coordinates with parents or guardians, providing them with the necessary care advice.
A health information specialist is in charge of overseeing and developing strategies to optimize information management procedures in hospitals, physicians' offices, and other similar environments. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering and updating medical records, receiving and organizing files, and updating databases according to the appropriate coding systems and procedures. Furthermore, as a health information specialist, it is essential to coordinate with nurses and other staff to ensure accuracy in documentation, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Pediatric occupational therapists and health information specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pediatric Occupational Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average salary | $82,293 | $33,343 |
| Salary range | Between $64,000 And $105,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Visalia, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Providence Health & Services | University of California |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a pediatric occupational therapist and a health information specialist in terms of educational background:
| Pediatric Occupational Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Occupational Therapy | Health Care Administration |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between pediatric occupational therapists' and health information specialists' demographics:
| Pediatric Occupational Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.0% Female, 89.0% | Male, 15.1% Female, 84.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.1% Asian, 10.1% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 9% |