Post job

Service provider vs community support specialist

The differences between service providers and community support 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 service provider and a community support specialist. Additionally, a community support specialist has an average salary of $39,320, which is higher than the $35,089 average annual salary of a service provider.

The top three skills for a service provider include customer service, cleanliness and social work. The most important skills for a community support specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.

Service provider vs community support specialist overview

Service ProviderCommunity Support Specialist
Yearly salary$35,089$39,320
Hourly rate$16.87$18.90
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs25,552111,431
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

What does a service provider do?

Service providers are individuals or entities offering services to an organization and other parties. They provide storage, processing, or network services. The providers offer organizations real estate, communications, education, legal, and consulting services. It is their job to complete the requested tasks of their clients, provide solutions to network problems, and recommend options based on the needs of their clients. They also suggest changes or opportunities necessary within the organization.

What does a community support specialist do?

A community support specialist is responsible for supporting and providing care services for citizens with mental health conditions and other medical illnesses. Community support specialists coordinate with organizations and health institutions to generate resources that would help the patients in their daily activities, medications, and treatment plans. They also strategize community events and activities to observe the patients' social and personal behaviors and endorse them to a mental health professional for in-depth examination and counseling.

Service provider vs community support specialist salary

Service providers and community support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Service ProviderCommunity Support Specialist
Average salary$35,089$39,320
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $51,000Between $27,000 And $56,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateHawaiiAlaska
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryInsuranceNon Profits

Differences between service provider and community support specialist education

There are a few differences between a service provider and a community support specialist in terms of educational background:

Service ProviderCommunity Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at BinghamtonCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Service provider vs community support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between service providers' and community support specialists' demographics:

Service ProviderCommunity Support Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 39.3% Female, 60.7%Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between service provider and community support specialist duties and responsibilities

Service provider example responsibilities.

  • Develop contracting strategy to build capacity and achieve ongoing compliance with Medicare and Medicaid provider network adequacy requirements.
  • Certify to administer first aid, CPR; dispense medication.
  • Certify in first aid and CPR programs via company training.
  • Ensure contracts comply with HIPAA, fraud and abuse regulations and CMS guidelines.
  • Provide assistance to DHS provider staff in order for them to better navigate through the social service systems.
  • Exceed company standards for unit cleanliness and client/partner satisfaction.
  • Show more

Community support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide PSR services to clients with mental illness in order to help them achieve the highest standard of living possible.
  • Review notes complete by other community support workers to assess progression towards individualize goals for patients on caseload.
  • Complete CPR and first aid training.
  • Participate in IEP meetings and academic action plans.
  • Develop new techniques to engage teenage males with autism in focuse areas of activity.
  • Provide direction to the program's register nurse and ensure compliance with OPWDD regulations.
  • Show more

Service provider vs community support specialist skills

Common service provider skills
  • Customer Service, 31%
  • Cleanliness, 20%
  • Social Work, 7%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Patients, 4%
  • Community Resources, 2%
Common community support specialist skills
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Independent Living, 5%
  • Substance Abuse, 5%

Browse community and social services jobs