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The differences between behavior therapists and treatment specialists 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 a treatment specialist. Additionally, a treatment specialist has an average salary of $53,673, 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 treatment specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.
| Behavior Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $36,864 | $53,673 |
| Hourly rate | $17.72 | $25.80 |
| Growth rate | 14% | - |
| Number of jobs | 90,578 | 67,604 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| 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.
The duties of a treatment specialist depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical industry, a treatment specialist is primarily responsible for developing treatments according to the needs and conditions of a patient. They gather and analyze a patient's medical history and records, conduct extensive tests and examinations, coordinate with other medical experts, and discuss the extent of treatments to patients. Furthermore, a treatment specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Behavior therapists and treatment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavior Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $36,864 | $53,673 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $49,000 | Between $34,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alabama | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Regis College | Delaware State Government |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a behavior therapist and a treatment specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavior Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 treatment specialists' demographics:
| Behavior Therapist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |