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The differences between youth specialists and mental health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a youth specialist, becoming a mental health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health specialist has an average salary of $47,321, which is higher than the $35,180 average annual salary of a youth specialist.
The top three skills for a youth specialist include crisis intervention, direct care and mental health. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.
| Youth Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,180 | $47,321 |
| Hourly rate | $16.91 | $22.75 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 71,303 | 131,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A youth specialist's role is to oversee the safety and welfare of children and young adults, ensuring that they get the necessary support and guidance. Their responsibilities include performing initial assessments and interviews to identify needs, conducting home inspections and evaluations, providing essential advice, and spearheading programs and projects that cater to the disadvantaged youth. Furthermore, there are instances when a youth specialist may execute interventions or refer families to other services. Should there be any signs of neglect or abuse, it is essential to coordinate with the authorities right away.
A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.
Youth specialists and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,180 | $47,321 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $45,000 | Between $31,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | Outside In | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a youth specialist and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Youth Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between youth specialists' and mental health specialists' demographics:
| Youth Specialist | Mental Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.3% Female, 57.7% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 15% |