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The differences between specialists and representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a specialist, becoming a representative takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a specialist has an average salary of $58,013, which is higher than the $36,023 average annual salary of a representative.
The top three skills for a specialist include patients, customer service and work ethic. The most important skills for a representative are cleanliness, patients, and customer issues.
| Specialist | Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $58,013 | $36,023 |
| Hourly rate | $27.89 | $17.32 |
| Growth rate | 10% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 358,433 | 252,761 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Specialists are employees who are responsible for specific tasks or activities in the department they are assigned to. The actions or tasks they work on are related to their educational background or work experiences. They are usually highly skilled in specializations related to the work they are assigned to. Specialists are also highly trained on the competencies that are required of their specialty. As such, they are focused on the skills and competencies that are needed to enhance their experience in their specific field further.
Representatives are lawmakers who represent the people in a specific district. They run for office to represent their districts in their hometown or their current place of living. Representatives are usually charismatic and good communicators. These characteristics are especially important during campaign and election periods. Representatives should be able to capture the hearts of the voters through their planned projects and advocacies. They are then elected by their constituents. Upon election, representatives author bills that will eventually be passed into law should it be approved by the majority of the congress. They also vote on the passage of bills authored by other representatives. They also participate in discussions and debates regarding different bills, issues, and laws. Representatives are expected to vote according to their conscience and in consideration of the voice of their constituents.
Specialists and representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Specialist | Representative | |
| Average salary | $58,013 | $36,023 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $104,000 | Between $23,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a specialist and a representative in terms of educational background:
| Specialist | Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between specialists' and representatives' demographics:
| Specialist | Representative | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |