Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between behavior analysts and behavioral health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a behavior analyst, becoming a behavioral health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a behavior analyst has an average salary of $73,616, which is higher than the $44,808 average annual salary of a behavioral health specialist.
The top three skills for a behavior analyst include autism, applied behavior analysis and BCBA. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Behavior Analyst | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,616 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $35.39 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 67,013 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A behavior analyst is responsible for supporting patients and students with mental and social difficulties, developing treatment plans to address their learning and/or social disabilities. Behavior analysts monitor the students' progress by evaluating their learning and providing them with comprehensive materials and resources according to a targeted curriculum. They also adjust therapy programs as needed, coordinating with other health professionals, students' families, and teachers to provide the best techniques to support their development.
Typically working for clinics and learning institutions, a behavioral health specialist is in charge of counseling and treating patients with behavioral issues. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial assessment through interview and observation, maintaining records and data, developing treatment plans, and referring patients to other support services when necessary. Moreover, a behavioral health specialist must communicate with the patient's families or guardians, discuss conditions, and provide advice on taking care of them. Aside from treating patients, it is also essential to continuously monitor their behavior while building positive relationships with them.
Behavior analysts and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Analyst | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $73,616 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $105,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Empower U | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Government | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a behavior analyst and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Analyst | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between behavior analysts' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Behavior Analyst | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 15% |