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The differences between youth specialists 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 youth specialist, becoming a youth worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a youth specialist has an average salary of $35,180, which is higher than the $32,242 average annual salary of a youth worker.
The top three skills for a youth specialist include crisis intervention, direct care and mental health. The most important skills for a youth worker are direct supervision, CPR, and crisis intervention.
| Youth Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $35,180 | $32,242 |
| Hourly rate | $16.91 | $15.50 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 71,303 | 87,360 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| 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.
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.
Youth specialists and youth workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Average salary | $35,180 | $32,242 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $45,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Freehold, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Outside In | Salt Lake County |
| Best paying industry | Government | Education |
There are a few differences between a youth specialist and a youth worker in terms of educational background:
| Youth Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between youth specialists' and youth workers' demographics:
| Youth Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Average age | 43 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.3% Female, 57.7% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| 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, 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% |