Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between behavioral scientists and social workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a behavioral scientist has an average salary of $84,521, which is higher than the $50,102 average annual salary of a social worker.
The top three skills for a behavioral scientist include research projects, statistical analysis and data analysis. The most important skills for a social worker are social work, patients, and patient care.
| Behavioral Scientist | Social Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $84,521 | $50,102 |
| Hourly rate | $40.64 | $24.09 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 45,246 | 77,340 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A behavioral scientist specializes in studying human behavior and interactions with various organisms. As a behavioral scientist, they are responsible for conducting studies, planning procedures according to research requirements, gathering and analyzing data, conducting surveys and interviews, and observing subjects. Through their research findings, a behavioral scientist develops conclusions and recommendations significant to the study's purpose. There are also times when they may provide consultations, facilitate seminars, and even help establish various programs. When it comes to employment, a behavioral scientist may work for government agencies, private or public laboratories, and even teach at learning institutions.
Social workers help their clients get through problems that they may be facing. Social workers help identify individuals or groups of people, usually families, who may need assistance, generally through a set of pre-determined criteria. They then determine the best ways to help their clients by interviewing them, getting to know them, and understanding the context of their lives. They create plans that will help their clients become better, such as integrating into a new environment, assisting them in their needs, or even rescuing them from their current place. Social workers have good interpersonal skills and communication skills.
Behavioral scientists and social workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Scientist | Social Worker | |
| Average salary | $84,521 | $50,102 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $137,000 | Between $37,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | - | Oregon |
| Best paying company | - | Health Advocates |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a behavioral scientist and a social worker in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Scientist | Social Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between behavioral scientists' and social workers' demographics:
| Behavioral Scientist | Social Worker | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% | Male, 19.5% Female, 80.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 5.5% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 13% |