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The differences between behavioral specialists and behavioral therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a behavioral specialist and a behavioral therapist. Additionally, a behavioral specialist has an average salary of $42,029, which is higher than the $37,881 average annual salary of a behavioral therapist.
The top three skills for a behavioral specialist include mental health, autism and applied behavior analysis. The most important skills for a behavioral therapist are autism, social work, and behavior analysis.
| Behavioral Specialist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,029 | $37,881 |
| Hourly rate | $20.21 | $18.21 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 74,968 | 91,976 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
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 specialists and behavioral therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Specialist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Average salary | $42,029 | $37,881 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $61,000 | Between $27,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Barbarian | George C. Grape Community Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Energy |
There are a few differences between a behavioral specialist and a behavioral therapist in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Specialist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | 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 specialists' and behavioral therapists' demographics:
| Behavioral Specialist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 12% | 12% |