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The differences between behavioral specialists and treatment 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 a treatment specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a treatment specialist has an average salary of $53,673, 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 a treatment specialist are social work, mental health, and rehabilitation.
| Behavioral Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,029 | $53,673 |
| Hourly rate | $20.21 | $25.80 |
| Growth rate | 12% | - |
| Number of jobs | 74,968 | 67,604 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| 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.
The duties of a treatment specialist depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical industry, a treatment specialist is primarily responsible for developing treatments according to the needs and conditions of a patient. They gather and analyze a patient's medical history and records, conduct extensive tests and examinations, coordinate with other medical experts, and discuss the extent of treatments to patients. Furthermore, a treatment specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Behavioral specialists and treatment specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average salary | $42,029 | $53,673 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $61,000 | Between $34,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Barbarian | Delaware State Government |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a behavioral specialist and a treatment specialist in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 treatment specialists' demographics:
| Behavioral Specialist | Treatment Specialist | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |