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The differences between behavioral assistants and behavioral specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a behavioral assistant, 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 $39,681 average annual salary of a behavioral assistant.
The top three skills for a behavioral assistant include behavioral interventions, mental health and patients. The most important skills for a behavioral specialist are mental health, autism, and applied behavior analysis.
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,681 | $42,029 |
| Hourly rate | $19.08 | $20.21 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 80,685 | 74,968 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
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.
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.
Behavioral assistants and behavioral specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Average salary | $39,681 | $42,029 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $28,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Maria, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Physician Affiliate Group of New York | Barbarian |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Professional |
There are a few differences between a behavioral assistant and a behavioral specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | 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 behavioral assistants' and behavioral specialists' demographics:
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| 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, 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 | 11% | 12% |