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The differences between behavior analysts and clinical psychologists 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 clinical psychologist takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a clinical psychologist has an average salary of $97,659, which is higher than the $73,616 average annual salary of a behavior analyst.
The top three skills for a behavior analyst include autism, applied behavior analysis and BCBA. The most important skills for a clinical psychologist are patients, rehabilitation, and clinical psychology.
| Behavior Analyst | Clinical Psychologist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,616 | $97,659 |
| Hourly rate | $35.39 | $46.95 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 67,013 | 69,762 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
A clinical psychologist is a healthcare professional who treats patients with various mental disorders through one-on-one or group settings. Clinical psychologists assist their patients in identifying their psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues so that a plan of action is created to help patients achieve personal and social development. To create a patient treatment plan, clinical psychologists must interview their patients who have different mental problems. They also collaborate with professionals such as social workers, nurses, and occupational therapists to provide the right treatment to their patients.
Behavior analysts and clinical psychologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Analyst | Clinical Psychologist | |
| Average salary | $73,616 | $97,659 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $105,000 | Between $72,000 And $132,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Empower U | Kaiser Permanente |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a behavior analyst and a clinical psychologist in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Analyst | Clinical Psychologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Clinical Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between behavior analysts' and clinical psychologists' demographics:
| Behavior Analyst | Clinical Psychologist | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% |
| 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, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |