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Vocational specialist vs family support specialist

The differences between vocational specialists and family support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a vocational specialist has an average salary of $37,486, which is higher than the $37,343 average annual salary of a family support specialist.

The top three skills for a vocational specialist include rehabilitation, social work and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a family support specialist are social work, child abuse, and patients.

Vocational specialist vs family support specialist overview

Vocational SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Yearly salary$37,486$37,343
Hourly rate$18.02$17.95
Growth rate10%9%
Number of jobs33,643143,739
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4242
Years of experience-4

What does a vocational specialist do?

Vocational Specialists are responsible for assisting individuals in finding out their career choices. They interview clients to assess their skills, job history, and personality. Their duties include matching a client's education, training, interests, and experiences to an available job position. They organize aptitude tests to assist the client make career options. They also help with résumé preparation or modification, maintaining client records, arranging reports, and correspondence. Vocal Specialists give support for individuals in times of layoffs or job losses.

What does a family support specialist do?

A family support specialist is an individual who provides counseling and rehabilitation services to families who are facing crises so that their lives can be improved. Family support specialists conduct interviews with members of a family to determine areas that need support such as anti-social behavior, bullying, or domestic violence. They collaborate with healthcare and social professionals to evaluate caseload needs. In cases of relevant child protection, family support specialists are also required to attend court sessions.

Vocational specialist vs family support specialist salary

Vocational specialists and family support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Vocational SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Average salary$37,486$37,343
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $46,000Between $24,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityPittsburg, CATrenton, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyNew York State Restaurant AssociationCatholic Health East
Best paying industryHealth CareProfessional

Differences between vocational specialist and family support specialist education

There are a few differences between a vocational specialist and a family support specialist in terms of educational background:

Vocational SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachHunter College of the City University of New York

Vocational specialist vs family support specialist demographics

Here are the differences between vocational specialists' and family support specialists' demographics:

Vocational SpecialistFamily Support Specialist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 31.7% Female, 68.3%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
LGBT Percentage11%10%

Differences between vocational specialist and family support specialist duties and responsibilities

Vocational specialist example responsibilities.

  • Conduct therapeutic and vocational rehabilitation groups for individuals who are diagnosed with a severe mental illness.
  • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation groups weekly.
  • Conduct initial interviews with individuals to determine if the situation warrant further investigation by EEO Specialists/investigators.
  • Document all activities including rationale for decisions in accordance with DARS policies and procedures.
  • Assist clients preparing to transition with housing applications and or locating low income and or affordable housing.
  • Facilitate vocational rehabilitation groups weekly.

Family support specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage RSP curriculum for wide spectrum of needs including LD and autism.
  • Help children/youth in state custody achieve permanency whether through reintegration, adoption or custodianship.
  • Provide first aid or CPR.
  • Provide intensive services to families that are DHS who are determine to be reunify with their families.
  • Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings, individual supervision, and other meetings require by DCF.
  • Provide activities supervision and individual counseling to DCFS wards of the state within a therapeutic milieu setting.
  • Show more

Vocational specialist vs family support specialist skills

Common vocational specialist skills
  • Rehabilitation, 14%
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Competitive Employment, 5%
  • Vocational Rehabilitation, 5%
Common family support specialist skills
  • Social Work, 23%
  • Child Abuse, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Child Development, 4%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
  • Foster Care, 4%

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