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The differences between behavioral assistants and behavioral therapists 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 therapist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a behavioral assistant has an average salary of $39,681, which is higher than the $37,881 average annual salary of a behavioral therapist.
The top three skills for a behavioral assistant include behavioral interventions, mental health and patients. The most important skills for a behavioral therapist are autism, social work, and behavior analysis.
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,681 | $37,881 |
| Hourly rate | $19.08 | $18.21 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 80,685 | 91,976 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 therapist is responsible for supporting patients with various developmental disorders and behavioral difficulties. Behavioral therapists conduct counseling to the patients, identifying their personal and social challenges, and administering treatment plans to modify unusual behaviors. They also coordinate with other medical professionals to plan activities and therapy sessions for patients' needs. A behavioral therapist maintains a record of the patients' progress, help them on developing social engagement, and adjust treatment strategies depending on the patients' noticeable changes.
Behavioral assistants and behavioral therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Average salary | $39,681 | $37,881 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $27,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Maria, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Physician Affiliate Group of New York | George C. Grape Community Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Energy |
There are a few differences between a behavioral assistant and a behavioral therapist in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 therapists' demographics:
| Behavioral Assistant | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% |
| 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% |