Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between behavior analysts and foster care workers 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 foster care worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a behavior analyst has an average salary of $73,616, which is higher than the $46,037 average annual salary of a foster care worker.
The top three skills for a behavior analyst include autism, applied behavior analysis and BCBA. The most important skills for a foster care worker are foster care, social work, and child abuse.
| Behavior Analyst | Foster Care Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $73,616 | $46,037 |
| Hourly rate | $35.39 | $22.13 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 67,013 | 151,625 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| 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.
A Foster Care Worker helps improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families as well as increases the family's well-being and the academic functioning of children. They counsel families about issues regarding their child's care and develop healthy living situations.
Behavior analysts and foster care workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Analyst | Foster Care Worker | |
| Average salary | $73,616 | $46,037 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $105,000 | Between $32,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Empower U | Riverview Health |
| Best paying industry | Government | Construction |
There are a few differences between a behavior analyst and a foster care worker in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Analyst | Foster Care Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Boston University |
Here are the differences between behavior analysts' and foster care workers' demographics:
| Behavior Analyst | Foster Care Worker | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% | Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |