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Student support specialist vs intervention specialist

The differences between student support specialists and intervention specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a student support specialist, becoming an intervention specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an intervention specialist has an average salary of $50,180, which is higher than the $43,449 average annual salary of a student support specialist.

The top three skills for a student support specialist include student support, social work and support services. The most important skills for an intervention specialist are mental health, social work, and crisis intervention.

Student support specialist vs intervention specialist overview

Student Support SpecialistIntervention Specialist
Yearly salary$43,449$50,180
Hourly rate$20.89$24.12
Growth rate12%9%
Number of jobs104,26469,156
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4345
Years of experience124

What does a student support specialist do?

A student support specialist provides ample counsel and advice for students in an educational institution. Student support's responsibility is to help students adjust, adapt, and advance through their learning life in school or university and provide care and support for them to grow. The student support specialist also connects students to relevant benefits, government educational benefits, and other help and benefits provided by the educational institution and its faculty. The student support specialist aims to help students in their studies and see them achieve their goals.

What does an intervention specialist do?

An intervention specialist is responsible for assisting children with special education and social adjustment needs in schools and other educational settings. You will be responsible for designing, executing, and assessing programs based on different factors, including gender, cultural background, and age. Other tasks that you will likely perform include working closely with teachers to discuss the subject matter with students, ensuring children and occupied and safe, and maintaining records of children's performance and lesson plans. An intervention specialist is also responsible for adhering to individualized education programs.

Student support specialist vs intervention specialist salary

Student support specialists and intervention specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student Support SpecialistIntervention Specialist
Average salary$43,449$50,180
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $65,000Between $35,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAAlameda, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyBoston Public SchoolsBirch
Best paying industryMediaGovernment

Differences between student support specialist and intervention specialist education

There are a few differences between a student support specialist and an intervention specialist in terms of educational background:

Student Support SpecialistIntervention Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Student support specialist vs intervention specialist demographics

Here are the differences between student support specialists' and intervention specialists' demographics:

Student Support SpecialistIntervention Specialist
Average age4345
Gender ratioMale, 37.5% Female, 62.5%Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 7.0% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%15%

Differences between student support specialist and intervention specialist duties and responsibilities

Student support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage SharePoint inventory repository and assign access levels to new hires as needed.
  • Train staff with methods to meet IEP goals, mandate reporting and effective communication in the classroom.
  • Monitor student behavior -assist with student IEP and report student activity
  • Provide individual academic assistance to students having difficulty with college-level mathematics
  • Provide various services as a liaison between students and administration obtain certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Provide individual academic assistance to students having difficulty with college-level mathematics

Intervention specialist example responsibilities.

  • Conduct mental health triage; make appropriate dispositions to other inpatient units with the local area.
  • Coordinate with parents, general education teachers, service providers in all aspects of the IEP and ETR annual review process.
  • Assist families with children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
  • Track students' GPA, college and career goals.
  • Supervise employees and train for EIS certification through DARS and state of Texas.
  • Perform crisis phone triage, mobile face to face assessments and arrange for respite services.
  • Show more

Student support specialist vs intervention specialist skills

Common student support specialist skills
  • Student Support, 29%
  • Social Work, 14%
  • Support Services, 7%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • Behavioral Issues, 5%
  • Technical Support, 3%
Common intervention specialist skills
  • Mental Health, 13%
  • Social Work, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Classroom Management, 5%
  • Group Sessions, 5%
  • IEP, 4%

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