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The differences between permit specialists and licensing specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a licensing specialist has an average salary of $53,533, which is higher than the $51,620 average annual salary of a permit specialist.
The top three skills for a permit specialist include GIS, construction drawings and data entry. The most important skills for a licensing specialist are customer service, social work, and foster care.
A permit specialist's job is to process applications for building permits or construction projects. The specialist's task is to make sure that the plans follow all of the code regulations before approving the permit. They need to have a considerable understanding of building codes, be it local or state, to be able to identify if there are any issues in the blueprints and also to be able to give applicants the correct information in case they have questions.
A licensing specialist typically works at government agencies where they are in charge of providing licenses and permits to applicants while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. Among their responsibilities include gathering and verifying identification files, reviewing and validating requirements, answering inquiries, collecting fees, conducting tests and examinations, and assisting applicants in filling out documents. Moreover, a licensing specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff, regularly coordinating for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Permit specialists and licensing specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Permit Specialist | Licensing Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,620 | $53,533 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $79,000 | Between $32,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Southern California Edison | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a permit specialist and a licensing specialist in terms of educational background:
| Permit Specialist | Licensing Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between permit specialists' and licensing specialists' demographics:
| Permit Specialist | Licensing Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.7% Female, 65.3% | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 12% |