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The differences between rehabilitation specialists and rehabilitation counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a rehabilitation specialist and a rehabilitation counselor. Additionally, a rehabilitation counselor has an average salary of $43,111, which is higher than the $42,934 average annual salary of a rehabilitation specialist.
The top three skills for a rehabilitation specialist include rehabilitation, patients and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a rehabilitation counselor are rehabilitation, social work, and mental health.
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $42,934 | $43,111 |
| Hourly rate | $20.64 | $20.73 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 29,177 | 77,220 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Rehabilitation specialists are professionals who are responsible for helping individuals with physical and mental disabilities to reintegrate into society and live independently. These specialists must assist their clients in finding the type of work they could do with their disability and prepare them for their interview. They are required to provide a basic explanation about the medical or mental health condition to their clients. Rehabilitation specialists must also collaborate with other professionals to assist with rehabilitation exercises.
Rehabilitation counselors are professional counselors who are responsible for helping individuals cope with their disabilities to live independently. These counselors are required to consult other professionals, family members, and individuals when developing a treatment plan based on the goals, strengths, limitations, and personal values of their clients. They must make connections with community support so that individuals with disabilities can avail of the types of services that are available. Rehabilitation counselors must also find employers and educate them in understanding the needs and abilities of disabled people.
Rehabilitation specialists and rehabilitation counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average salary | $42,934 | $43,111 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cleveland, OH | Cleveland, OH |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Ohio |
| Best paying company | Prudential Bank | North Shore Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a rehabilitation specialist and a rehabilitation counselor in terms of educational background:
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | University of Washington |
Here are the differences between rehabilitation specialists' and rehabilitation counselors' demographics:
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Counselor | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 21% |