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The differences between behavior therapists and aba therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a behavior therapist and an aba therapist. Additionally, a behavior therapist has an average salary of $36,864, which is higher than the $35,938 average annual salary of an aba therapist.
The top three skills for a behavior therapist include autism, applied behavior analysis and behavior analysis. The most important skills for an aba therapist are autism, applied behavior analysis, and BCBA.
| Behavior Therapist | ABA Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $36,864 | $35,938 |
| Hourly rate | $17.72 | $17.28 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 90,578 | 90,516 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A behavior therapist is an individual psychologist who is responsible for helping patients with mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Behavior therapists must equip patients with psychological tools to help them diminish unhealthy thoughts so that they can effectively deal with the challenges of their daily lives. They are required to devise problem-solving methods such as psychotherapy and counseling to help patients improve their quality of life. Behavior therapists must also collaborate with the families of their patients to help them overcome behavioral issues more effectively.
An ABA therapist is responsible for administering treatment plans to patients with behavioral disabilities and intellectual disorders, supporting them through systematic processes, and recording their developmental progress throughout therapy sessions. ABA therapists develop engaging activities for the children, observing their personal and social behaviors, and adjust approach as needed. They also coordinate with other behavior therapists and other medical health professionals for refined strategies that adhere to the child's progress. An ABA therapist must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist patients with different behavioral problems and attend to their needs efficiently.
Behavior therapists and aba therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Therapist | ABA Therapist | |
| Average salary | $36,864 | $35,938 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $49,000 | Between $27,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alabama | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Regis College | Cook Children's Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a behavior therapist and an aba therapist in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Therapist | ABA Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between behavior therapists' and aba therapists' demographics:
| Behavior Therapist | ABA Therapist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |