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The differences between youth specialists and treatment 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 treatment specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a treatment specialist has an average salary of $53,673, 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 treatment specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.
| Youth Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,180 | $53,673 |
| Hourly rate | $16.91 | $25.80 |
| Growth rate | 12% | - |
| Number of jobs | 71,303 | 67,604 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| 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.
The duties of a treatment specialist depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical industry, a treatment specialist is primarily responsible for developing treatments according to the needs and conditions of a patient. They gather and analyze a patient's medical history and records, conduct extensive tests and examinations, coordinate with other medical experts, and discuss the extent of treatments to patients. Furthermore, a treatment specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Youth specialists and treatment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,180 | $53,673 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $45,000 | Between $34,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Outside In | Delaware State Government |
| Best paying industry | Government | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a youth specialist and a treatment specialist in terms of educational background:
| Youth Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 treatment specialists' demographics:
| Youth Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.3% Female, 57.7% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |