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The differences between youth workers and treatment specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a youth worker and a treatment specialist. Additionally, a treatment specialist has an average salary of $53,673, which is higher than the $32,242 average annual salary of a youth worker.
The top three skills for a youth worker include direct supervision, CPR and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a treatment specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.
| Youth Worker | Treatment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $32,242 | $53,673 |
| Hourly rate | $15.50 | $25.80 |
| Growth rate | 9% | - |
| Number of jobs | 87,360 | 67,604 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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 workers and treatment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Worker | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $32,242 | $53,673 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $34,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Freehold, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Salt Lake County | Delaware State Government |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a youth worker and a treatment specialist in terms of educational background:
| Youth Worker | Treatment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between youth workers' and treatment specialists' demographics:
| Youth Worker | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 10% | 10% |