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The differences between desk clerks supervisors and eligibility specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a support staff, becoming an eligibility specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an eligibility specialist has an average salary of $37,322, which is higher than the $31,772 average annual salary of a support staff.
The top three skills for a support staff include customer service, developmental disabilities and mental health. The most important skills for an eligibility specialist are medicaid, patients, and provide technical assistance.
| Support Staff | Eligibility Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $31,772 | $37,322 |
| Hourly rate | $15.28 | $17.94 |
| Growth rate | 36% | - |
| Number of jobs | 161,915 | 19,944 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
School support staff provide specialized instructional and student support while utilizing school facilities. They often include diverse staff members whose main role is to ensure that students learn in a supportive and safe learning environment. It is also their duty to enhance school climate by promoting the involvement of parent and family in education as well as to encourage trusting, positive student relationships. They should inhibit positive behavior and send uplifting messages to students as they often connect with them throughout the day.
An eligibility specialist is responsible for reviewing applicants' documents to verify their eligibility for qualifying for various organization programs. Eligibility specialists organize files accurately, communicate with other institutions for fact-checking, follow-up with the applicants for missing requirements, respond to the applicants' inquiries and concerns, and recommend alternatives, especially for financial assistance. An eligibility specialist must have excellent communication and record-keeping skills and extensive knowledge of the aid programs and company policies for processing applications.
Desk clerks supervisors and eligibility specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Support Staff | Eligibility Specialist | |
| Average salary | $31,772 | $37,322 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $30,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Chicago, IL |
| Highest paying state | New York | Iowa |
| Best paying company | Lakeland Electric | CBIZ |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between a support staff and an eligibility specialist in terms of educational background:
| Support Staff | Eligibility Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Duke University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between desk clerks supervisors' and eligibility specialists' demographics:
| Support Staff | Eligibility Specialist | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8% | Male, 18.1% Female, 81.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 6.2% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 14.1% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.1% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |