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The differences between behavioral specialists and intervention specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a behavioral specialist, becoming an intervention specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an intervention specialist has an average salary of $50,180, which is higher than the $42,029 average annual salary of a behavioral specialist.
The top three skills for a behavioral specialist include mental health, autism and applied behavior analysis. The most important skills for an intervention specialist are mental health, social work, and crisis intervention.
| Behavioral Specialist | Intervention Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,029 | $50,180 |
| Hourly rate | $20.21 | $24.12 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 74,968 | 69,156 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
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.
An intervention specialist is responsible for assisting children with special education and social adjustment needs in schools and other educational settings. You will be responsible for designing, executing, and assessing programs based on different factors, including gender, cultural background, and age. Other tasks that you will likely perform include working closely with teachers to discuss the subject matter with students, ensuring children and occupied and safe, and maintaining records of children's performance and lesson plans. An intervention specialist is also responsible for adhering to individualized education programs.
Behavioral specialists and intervention specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Specialist | Intervention Specialist | |
| Average salary | $42,029 | $50,180 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $61,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Alameda, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Barbarian | Birch |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Government |
There are a few differences between a behavioral specialist and an intervention specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Specialist | Intervention Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between behavioral specialists' and intervention specialists' demographics:
| Behavioral Specialist | Intervention Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% | Male, 30.4% Female, 69.6% |
| 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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 15% |