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The differences between residence counselors and treatment 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 residence counselor and a treatment specialist. Additionally, a treatment specialist has an average salary of $53,673, which is higher than the $34,931 average annual salary of a residence counselor.
The top three skills for a residence counselor include developmental disabilities, CPR and community resources. The most important skills for a treatment specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.
| Residence Counselor | Treatment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $34,931 | $53,673 |
| Hourly rate | $16.79 | $25.80 |
| Growth rate | 36% | - |
| Number of jobs | 78,872 | 67,604 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Residence counselors are professionals who are responsible for providing services such as one-to-one therapy and crisis support to clients who are living in group homes or assisted-living facilities. These counselors must assist adults with moderate intellectual disabilities to find employment while monitoring their work performance. They must facilitate and supervise daily personal care and activities for developmentally disabled adults. Residence counselors must also encourage clients to participate in community activities that can contribute to the development of skills necessary for independent living.
The duties of a treatment specialist depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical industry, a treatment specialist is primarily responsible for developing treatments according to the needs and conditions of a patient. They gather and analyze a patient's medical history and records, conduct extensive tests and examinations, coordinate with other medical experts, and discuss the extent of treatments to patients. Furthermore, a treatment specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Residence counselors and treatment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residence Counselor | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $34,931 | $53,673 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $43,000 | Between $34,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Phoenix, AZ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | McLean Hospital | Delaware State Government |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a residence counselor and a treatment specialist in terms of educational background:
| Residence Counselor | Treatment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between residence counselors' and treatment specialists' demographics:
| Residence Counselor | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 10% |