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The differences between behavior interventionists and residential 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 interventionist, becoming a residential counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a behavior interventionist has an average salary of $38,908, which is higher than the $34,117 average annual salary of a residential counselor.
The top three skills for a behavior interventionist include applied behavior analysis, autism and behavior analysis. The most important skills for a residential counselor are direct care, medication administration, and mental health.
| Behavior Interventionist | Residential Counselor | |
| Yearly salary | $38,908 | $34,117 |
| Hourly rate | $18.71 | $16.40 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 70,115 | 81,287 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Behavior interventionists and residential counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Interventionist | Residential Counselor | |
| Average salary | $38,908 | $34,117 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $51,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Crescent City Schools | The Evergreens |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a behavior interventionist and a residential counselor in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Interventionist | Residential Counselor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between behavior interventionists' and residential counselors' demographics:
| Behavior Interventionist | Residential Counselor | |
| Average age | 39 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| 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, 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% |