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The differences between vocational rehabilitation specialists and rehabilitation 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 vocational rehabilitation specialist and a rehabilitation specialist. Additionally, a vocational rehabilitation specialist has an average salary of $47,721, which is higher than the $42,934 average annual salary of a rehabilitation specialist.
The top three skills for a vocational rehabilitation specialist include rehabilitation, community resources and independent living. The most important skills for a rehabilitation specialist are rehabilitation, patients, and crisis intervention.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $47,721 | $42,934 |
| Hourly rate | $22.94 | $20.64 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 4,190 | 29,177 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A vocational rehabilitation specialist helps clients suffering from disabilities, impairments, or injuries with employment opportunities. Their job is to critically assess their clients' interests and problems and to use that to figure out the perfect position that would be a great fit for their capabilities. Their job may also involve the evaluation of employees who wish to return to work to determine if they can do so and how best to go about it.
Rehabilitation specialists are professionals who are responsible for helping individuals with physical and mental disabilities to reintegrate into society and live independently. These specialists must assist their clients in finding the type of work they could do with their disability and prepare them for their interview. They are required to provide a basic explanation about the medical or mental health condition to their clients. Rehabilitation specialists must also collaborate with other professionals to assist with rehabilitation exercises.
Vocational rehabilitation specialists and rehabilitation specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Average salary | $47,721 | $42,934 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $64,000 | Between $29,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Cleveland, OH |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan | Prudential Bank |
| Best paying industry | Government | Professional |
There are a few differences between a vocational rehabilitation specialist and a rehabilitation specialist in terms of educational background:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Columbia University in the City of New York |
Here are the differences between vocational rehabilitation specialists' and rehabilitation specialists' demographics:
| Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist | Rehabilitation Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.5% Female, 59.5% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 21% | 21% |