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The differences between behavioral assistants and activity assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a behavioral assistant and an activity assistant. Additionally, a behavioral assistant has an average salary of $39,681, which is higher than the $29,611 average annual salary of an activity assistant.
The top three skills for a behavioral assistant include behavioral interventions, mental health and patients. The most important skills for an activity assistant are patients, home health, and rehabilitation.
| Behavioral Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $39,681 | $29,611 |
| Hourly rate | $19.08 | $14.24 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 80,685 | 25,038 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Behavioral Assistants are responsible for providing support and capacity in behavioral and clinical services for students with disabilities. Their duties include addressing behavior management safety needs, supporting emotional and social needs, giving academic support, and implementing behavioral improvement plans. They also deal with physical management, behavior de-escalations, and undertake student reviews with the teacher regularly. Behavioral Assistants will also collect data, write student reports, and ensure health and hygiene protocols are adhered to.
Activity assistants are the ones who organize and execute activities in different settings, including recreation centers, camps, cruise ships, and retirement or nursing homes. They design programs to encourage physical activity, increase socialization, deliver continuing education, and provide entertainment. They are also the ones who handle logistics, select and demonstrate activities, maintain proper equipment, and ensure the safety of participants. They can work full-time, part-time, or seasonally in different settings depending on the kind of clients that they cater to.
Behavioral assistants and activity assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Average salary | $39,681 | $29,611 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Maria, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Maine |
| Best paying company | Physician Affiliate Group of New York | Smithsonian Institution |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a behavioral assistant and an activity assistant in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Fullerton |
Here are the differences between behavioral assistants' and activity assistants' demographics:
| Behavioral Assistant | Activity Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 6.0% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |