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The differences between behavior therapists and behavioral specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a behavior therapist, becoming a behavioral specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a behavioral specialist has an average salary of $42,029, which is higher than the $36,864 average annual salary of a behavior therapist.
The top three skills for a behavior therapist include autism, applied behavior analysis and behavior analysis. The most important skills for a behavioral specialist are mental health, autism, and applied behavior analysis.
| Behavior Therapist | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $36,864 | $42,029 |
| Hourly rate | $17.72 | $20.21 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 90,578 | 74,968 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A behavioral specialist is a psychological expert providing guidance and counseling to people who have behavioral issues affecting their abilities to learn and socialize with other people. Behavioral specialists assess the level of patients' behavior and make treatment plans to help them cope. They monitor the patient's progress and keep treatment reports, improving or adjusting treatment plans as needed. They also communicate with the patients' family and friends for treatment support, as well as coordinate with other health professionals for additional assistance.
Behavior therapists and behavioral specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Therapist | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Average salary | $36,864 | $42,029 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $49,000 | Between $28,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alabama | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Regis College | Barbarian |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between a behavior therapist and a behavioral specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Therapist | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| 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 behavioral specialists' demographics:
| Behavior Therapist | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 12% |