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The differences between behavior interventionists and behavior support 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 interventionist, becoming a behavior support specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a behavior interventionist has an average salary of $38,908, which is higher than the $36,769 average annual salary of a behavior support specialist.
The top three skills for a behavior interventionist include applied behavior analysis, autism and behavior analysis. The most important skills for a behavior support specialist are social work, crisis intervention, and applied behavior analysis.
| Behavior Interventionist | Behavior Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,908 | $36,769 |
| Hourly rate | $18.71 | $17.68 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 70,115 | 140,749 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
A behavior interventionist, or sometimes called behavior intervention specialist (BIS), is an individual who provides support and training for students with behavioral challenges through behavior management techniques and coping skills. Behavior interventionists must assist in implementing Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIP) or Individual Education Programs (IEP) to students who have difficulties in learning and advancing with their class. They are required to travel between different schools to attend case review meetings and meet with teachers who need assistance for managing problems in their classrooms. Behavior interventionists also consult with both medical and psychological professionals to develop and implement BIPs.
Behavior support specialists are social work professionals who provide support to other therapists in treating individuals with behavioral issues. These specialists must provide behavior analysis and health consultations to individuals who are diagnosed with development delay issues, disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders. They must develop and monitor crisis intervention plans for patients with mental health and behavioral needs. Behavior support specialists must also work with special education and regular teachers to implement behavior intervention strategies for students with special education needs.
Behavior interventionists and behavior support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Interventionist | Behavior Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $38,908 | $36,769 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $51,000 | Between $28,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Crescent City Schools | Texas |
| Best paying industry | Education | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a behavior interventionist and a behavior support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Interventionist | Behavior Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between behavior interventionists' and behavior support specialists' demographics:
| Behavior Interventionist | Behavior Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 35.2% Female, 64.8% |
| 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, 10.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |