Post job

Student support specialist vs resource specialist

The differences between student support specialists and resource specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a resource specialist has an average salary of $55,558, 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 a resource specialist are patients, customer service, and social work.

Student support specialist vs resource specialist overview

Student Support SpecialistResource Specialist
Yearly salary$43,449$55,558
Hourly rate$20.89$26.71
Growth rate12%6%
Number of jobs104,26436,281
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4344
Years of experience12-

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 a resource specialist do?

A resource specialist is responsible for teaching students with learning difficulties and special needs, providing them with comprehensive educational materials and learning strategies for academic success. Resource specialists follow a specific curriculum adhering to the personal and educational development of the students, recording their progress by administering evaluations through individual and group assessments. They also conduct one-on-one counseling for the students to identify their needs, hone in on their strengths, manage their weaknesses, and develop their career aspirations.

Student support specialist vs resource specialist salary

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

Student Support SpecialistResource Specialist
Average salary$43,449$55,558
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $65,000Between $32,000 And $94,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkConnecticut
Best paying companyBoston Public SchoolsPoint B
Best paying industryMedia-

Differences between student support specialist and resource specialist education

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

Student Support SpecialistResource Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversitySUNY at Binghamton

Student support specialist vs resource specialist demographics

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

Student Support SpecialistResource Specialist
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 37.5% Female, 62.5%Male, 27.4% Female, 72.6%
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, 2.6% Unknown, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.3% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%9%

Differences between student support specialist and resource 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

Resource specialist example responsibilities.

  • Facilitate development of veterans individual rehabilitation plans, which provide purpose, organization and empowerment to achieve life goals.
  • Provide ADL's for all the clients.
  • Operate, troubleshoot, and provide basic maintenance for printers, copy and fax machines, phone system and PC's.
  • Initiate new district-wide adoption of computerize IEP development.
  • Work with CMS contractors to resolve necessary eligibility discrepancies.
  • Search electronic subscription interface to monitor and troubleshoot access problems.
  • Show more

Student support specialist vs resource 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 resource specialist skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Professional Development, 5%
  • Mental Health, 3%

Browse community and social services jobs