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The differences between behavior interventionists and youth mentors 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 youth mentor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a behavior interventionist has an average salary of $38,908, which is higher than the $32,750 average annual salary of a youth mentor.
The top three skills for a behavior interventionist include applied behavior analysis, autism and behavior analysis. The most important skills for a youth mentor are mental health, substance abuse, and eating disorders.
| Behavior Interventionist | Youth Mentor | |
| Yearly salary | $38,908 | $32,750 |
| Hourly rate | $18.71 | $15.75 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 70,115 | 68,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| 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.
Youth mentors are adult individuals who are responsible for creating programs to improve the well-being of young people by providing role models that can support them academically and socially. These mentors must educate the community on issues related to mental health while making regular home visits to youth and young adults. They should provide direct care and assistance to adolescents who are with substance abuse issues by creating an educational curriculum on the said topic. Youth mentors are also required to collaborate with mental health professionals and social workers to coordinate counseling efforts.
Behavior interventionists and youth mentors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Interventionist | Youth Mentor | |
| Average salary | $38,908 | $32,750 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $51,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maine |
| Best paying company | Crescent City Schools | LifeWorks |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a behavior interventionist and a youth mentor in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Interventionist | Youth Mentor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | SUNY at Binghamton |
Here are the differences between behavior interventionists' and youth mentors' demographics:
| Behavior Interventionist | Youth Mentor | |
| Average age | 39 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% |
| 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, 11.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |