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The differences between behavior analysts and youth care 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 youth care specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a behavior analyst has an average salary of $73,616, which is higher than the $38,955 average annual salary of a youth care specialist.
The top three skills for a behavior analyst include autism, applied behavior analysis and BCBA. The most important skills for a youth care specialist are customer service, patients, and CPR.
| Behavior Analyst | Youth Care Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,616 | $38,955 |
| Hourly rate | $35.39 | $18.73 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 67,013 | 133,042 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
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.
Youth care specialists are social experts who coordinate programs for children and young people who need care while being away from their own families for some reason. These specialists are required to maintain a safe environment in the community so that children will feel safe, cared for, and nurture. They must lead various seminars for youths about topics such as job readiness, financial literacy, and higher education. They must also communicate the concerns and other important information to a child's assigned social worker and provide back-up support to case managers if needed.
Behavior analysts and youth care specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Analyst | Youth Care Specialist | |
| Average salary | $73,616 | $38,955 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $105,000 | Between $24,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Annapolis, MD |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maryland |
| Best paying company | Empower U | Delaware State Government |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a behavior analyst and a youth care specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Analyst | Youth Care Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between behavior analysts' and youth care specialists' demographics:
| Behavior Analyst | Youth Care Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% |
| 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, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 6.0% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |