Post job

Visitor services specialist vs child life specialist

The differences between visitor services specialists and child life specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a visitor services specialist and a child life specialist. Additionally, a visitor services specialist has an average salary of $62,428, which is higher than the $55,201 average annual salary of a child life specialist.

The top three skills for a visitor services specialist include foster care, compassion and data entry. The most important skills for a child life specialist are patients, child development, and patient care.

Visitor services specialist vs child life specialist overview

Visitor Services SpecialistChild Life Specialist
Yearly salary$62,428$55,201
Hourly rate$30.01$26.54
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs63,98890,517
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

Visitor services specialist vs child life specialist salary

Visitor services specialists and child life specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Visitor Services SpecialistChild Life Specialist
Average salary$62,428$55,201
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $85,000Between $31,000 And $96,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-L.E.K. Consulting
Best paying industry--

Differences between visitor services specialist and child life specialist education

There are a few differences between a visitor services specialist and a child life specialist in terms of educational background:

Visitor Services SpecialistChild Life Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachNorthwestern University

Visitor services specialist vs child life specialist demographics

Here are the differences between visitor services specialists' and child life specialists' demographics:

Visitor Services SpecialistChild Life Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 20.1% Female, 79.9%Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between visitor services specialist and child life specialist duties and responsibilities

Visitor services specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage a caseload TANF clients, assess clients eligibility to receive benefits, assist with placement of clients in various programs.
  • Review applicant documentation to determine eligibility for state and federal aid programs, including Medicaid, food stamps and emergency assistance.
  • Review applicant documentation to determine eligibility for state and federal aid programs, including Medicaid, food stamps and emergency assistance.

Child life specialist example responsibilities.

  • Observe activities and respond accordingly including emergency situations such as evacuation, CPR, or first aid.
  • Experience working with kids diagnose with bipolar, schizophrenia, autism, ADHD, depression among other disorders.
  • Provide valuable technical assistance to early childhood educators seeking resources on developing quality childcare environment.
  • Detail knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid programs.
  • Compile monthly statistical data on ADL caseload progress.
  • Exhibit patience, care, and compassion towards others.
  • Show more

Visitor services specialist vs child life specialist skills

Common visitor services specialist skills
  • Foster Care, 22%
  • Compassion, 9%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Mental Health, 8%
  • Child Abuse, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
Common child life specialist skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Child Development, 9%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Child Life Services, 5%
  • Social Work, 5%
  • CCLS, 4%

Browse community and social services jobs