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The differences between aba therapists 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 an aba therapist and a treatment specialist. Additionally, a treatment specialist has an average salary of $53,673, which is higher than the $35,938 average annual salary of an aba therapist.
The top three skills for an aba therapist include autism, applied behavior analysis and BCBA. The most important skills for a treatment specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.
| ABA Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,938 | $53,673 |
| Hourly rate | $17.28 | $25.80 |
| Growth rate | 14% | - |
| Number of jobs | 90,516 | 67,604 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An ABA therapist is responsible for administering treatment plans to patients with behavioral disabilities and intellectual disorders, supporting them through systematic processes, and recording their developmental progress throughout therapy sessions. ABA therapists develop engaging activities for the children, observing their personal and social behaviors, and adjust approach as needed. They also coordinate with other behavior therapists and other medical health professionals for refined strategies that adhere to the child's progress. An ABA therapist must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist patients with different behavioral problems and attend to their needs efficiently.
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.
Aba therapists and treatment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| ABA Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,938 | $53,673 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $47,000 | Between $34,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Cook Children's Medical Center | Delaware State Government |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between an aba therapist and a treatment specialist in terms of educational background:
| ABA Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between aba therapists' and treatment specialists' demographics:
| ABA Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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 | 6% | 10% |