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The differences between volunteers and youth workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a volunteer, becoming a youth worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a youth worker has an average salary of $32,242, which is higher than the $31,227 average annual salary of a volunteer.
The top three skills for a volunteer include child care, patient charts and patient care. The most important skills for a youth worker are direct supervision, CPR, and crisis intervention.
| Volunteer | Youth Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $31,227 | $32,242 |
| Hourly rate | $15.01 | $15.50 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 9,583 | 87,360 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Volunteers are usually unpaid individuals who render their service to a company or organization. Most of the time, volunteers are skilled in specific areas needed by the organization but prefer to provide free service. They may be employed in another organization, but they lend their time and talent to another organization or company to give back to the community. They raise funds, create awareness, and work on the ground. Volunteers usually choose a cause or advocacy close to their heart, such as teaching children, taking care of the elderly, coaching sports teams, cleaning up communities, and caring for animals.
Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.
Volunteers and youth workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Volunteer | Youth Worker | |
| Average salary | $31,227 | $32,242 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $41,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Freehold, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | Salt Lake County |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between a volunteer and a youth worker in terms of educational background:
| Volunteer | Youth Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Fullerton | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between volunteers' and youth workers' demographics:
| Volunteer | Youth Worker | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.0% Female, 64.0% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 7.3% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | 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 Percentage | 11% | 10% |