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The differences between social services specialists and advocates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a social services specialist and an advocate. Additionally, a social services specialist has an average salary of $48,359, which is higher than the $39,497 average annual salary of an advocate.
The top three skills for a social services specialist include social work, patients and substance abuse. The most important skills for an advocate are CPR, customer service, and developmental disabilities.
| Social Services Specialist | Advocate | |
| Yearly salary | $48,359 | $39,497 |
| Hourly rate | $23.25 | $18.99 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 154,022 | 74,970 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Social Services Specialist provides social services to children and adults in communities, facilities, institutions, or hospitals. They develop and implement specialized treatment programs.
An advocate is a voice for the voiceless. It is their responsibility to speak on behalf of an individual or a particular cause. Most of the duties will vary depending on the line of organization or duty involved; however, an advocate must have extensive knowledge or background on the subject matter. Furthermore, an advocate must be present at gatherings regarding the cause, assist in the negotiation and mediation processes involving contracts and legal documentation, provide or convey accurate information, and defend what they represent.
Social services specialists and advocates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Social Services Specialist | Advocate | |
| Average salary | $48,359 | $39,497 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $26,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | New York |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Government |
There are a few differences between a social services specialist and an advocate in terms of educational background:
| Social Services Specialist | Advocate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Dominguez Hills | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between social services specialists' and advocates' demographics:
| Social Services Specialist | Advocate | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.5% Female, 78.5% | Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.2% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |