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The differences between behavior analysts and program counselors 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 program counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a behavior analyst has an average salary of $73,616, which is higher than the $43,820 average annual salary of a program counselor.
The top three skills for a behavior analyst include autism, applied behavior analysis and BCBA. The most important skills for a program counselor are developmental disabilities, patients, and community integration.
| Behavior Analyst | Program Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $73,616 | $43,820 |
| Hourly rate | $35.39 | $21.07 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 67,013 | 133,491 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| 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 Program Counselor is an essential part of a school's faculty. It's the counselor's responsibility to ensure that students are benefiting from the school's educational curriculum. This person is also tasked to help students resolve issues and problems that may hinder any educational progress. They are also part of the disciplinary team intended to instill good morals, ethics, and decency in students. The Program Counselor is one of the teacher or professor who has expertise or has a high educational degree in a particular subject or field.
Behavior analysts and program counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Analyst | Program Counselor | |
| Average salary | $73,616 | $43,820 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $105,000 | Between $33,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Empower U | Russell Sage College |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a behavior analyst and a program counselor in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Analyst | Program Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between behavior analysts' and program counselors' demographics:
| Behavior Analyst | Program Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% | Male, 35.9% Female, 64.1% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 15% |