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The differences between total loss specialists and specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a total loss specialist, becoming a specialist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a specialist has an average salary of $58,013, which is higher than the $51,718 average annual salary of a total loss specialist.
The top three skills for a total loss specialist include customer service, HR and outbound calls. The most important skills for a specialist are patients, customer service, and work ethic.
| Total Loss Specialist | Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,718 | $58,013 |
| Hourly rate | $24.86 | $27.89 |
| Growth rate | -6% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 33,617 | 358,433 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
As a Total Loss Specialist, your job will involve appraising the damage and determining the salvage value on the total-loss vehicle. You will be tasked with examining the damaged vehicle to ascertain the extent of damage done to its body and structure and other mechanical, electrical, and internal damage. You'd also have to arrange with another appraiser to resolve any disagreement with the shop on the cost of repair after determining the extent of the damage to the vehicle.
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.
Total loss specialists and specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Total Loss Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,718 | $58,013 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $81,000 | Between $32,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a total loss specialist and a specialist in terms of educational background:
| Total Loss Specialist | Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between total loss specialists' and specialists' demographics:
| Total Loss Specialist | Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% | Male, 47.5% Female, 52.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |