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Behavior therapist vs behavioral technician

The differences between behavior therapists and behavioral technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a behavior therapist has an average salary of $36,864, which is higher than the $33,282 average annual salary of a behavioral technician.

The top three skills for a behavior therapist include autism, applied behavior analysis and behavior analysis. The most important skills for a behavioral technician are autism, applied behavior analysis, and behavior analysis.

Behavior therapist vs behavioral technician overview

Behavior TherapistBehavioral Technician
Yearly salary$36,864$33,282
Hourly rate$17.72$16.00
Growth rate14%9%
Number of jobs90,57845,287
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4134
Years of experience4-

What does a behavior therapist do?

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.

What does a behavioral technician do?

A behavioral technician is responsible for supporting patients to overcome their behavior problems and difficulties. Behavioral technicians evaluate the patient's condition through counseling and administer behavioral treatment plans according to the patients' needs. They also coordinate with other physicians and mental health professionals for medications and more serious medical support as needed. A behavioral technician assists the patients in their daily activities, observe their social and personal behaviors, write progress reports, and develop engaging activities that would help them bring back a healthy lifestyle and growth.

Behavior therapist vs behavioral technician salary

Behavior therapists and behavioral technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Behavior TherapistBehavioral Technician
Average salary$36,864$33,282
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $49,000Between $24,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CityChicago, ILSomerville, MA
Highest paying stateAlabamaMassachusetts
Best paying companyRegis CollegeMissouri State University
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between behavior therapist and behavioral technician education

There are a few differences between a behavior therapist and a behavioral technician in terms of educational background:

Behavior TherapistBehavioral Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 71%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachJohns Hopkins University

Behavior therapist vs behavioral technician demographics

Here are the differences between behavior therapists' and behavioral technicians' demographics:

Behavior TherapistBehavioral Technician
Average age4134
Gender ratioMale, 19.5% Female, 80.5%Male, 32.7% Female, 67.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage6%15%

Differences between behavior therapist and behavioral technician duties and responsibilities

Behavior therapist example responsibilities.

  • Teach family members and teachers different ways to achieve cooperation with child and transfer skills to ensure an efficient learning environment.
  • Provide applied behavior analysis services to individuals diagnose with autism and other developmental disabilities to enhance their quality of life.
  • Provide basic parent education of correct implementation of ABA principles.
  • Provide one-on-one aba-base treatment to children who have been diagnose with autism and other developmental disorders.
  • Solve certify as well as first aid and CPR certify.
  • Complete all requirements need to be certify as an RBT.
  • Show more

Behavioral technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the behavior of students using the CPI training skills when necessary.
  • Train in CPR and restraint techniques, as well as behavioral training to detect the precursors to behavioral issues.
  • Experience with individuals of all ages affect by autism and other behavioral, developmental or communication disorders
  • Implement behavioral support plans provide and produce by apply behavior analysts for individual consumers diagnose with autism spectrum disorder.
  • Facilitate psycho-social education groups with interventions used but not limit to motivational interviewing, mental rehabilitation and think processes.
  • Provide observation, documentation and communication of patient behavioral and verbal responses /reactions between patients and between patients and staff.
  • Show more

Behavior therapist vs behavioral technician skills

Common behavior therapist skills
  • Autism, 19%
  • Applied Behavior Analysis, 18%
  • Behavior Analysis, 10%
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder, 7%
  • Behavior Analysts, 5%
  • BCBA, 4%
Common behavioral technician skills
  • Autism, 18%
  • Applied Behavior Analysis, 13%
  • Behavior Analysis, 12%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder, 5%
  • Patients, 4%

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