Child Development Specialists vs Rehabilitation Counselors
Median pay is about $13k higher for Child Development Specialists. The usual entry education is bachelor's for Child Development Specialists and master's for Rehabilitation Counselors.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Child Development Specialists | Rehabilitation Counselors |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $59,550, higher | $46,850 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $48,270, higher | $38,770 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $76,070, higher | $59,260 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +4.4% Growing fast, higher | +2.2% Growing |
| Openings a year | 33,900 | 8,200 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Bachelor's | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.8 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 34th pct | 44th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, monitoring, writing.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.