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The differences between behavioral specialists and youth workers 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 youth worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a behavioral specialist has an average salary of $42,029, which is higher than the $32,242 average annual salary of a youth worker.
The top three skills for a behavioral specialist include mental health, autism and applied behavior analysis. The most important skills for a youth worker are direct supervision, CPR, and crisis intervention.
| Behavioral Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $42,029 | $32,242 |
| Hourly rate | $20.21 | $15.50 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 74,968 | 87,360 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| 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.
Youth workers specialize in handling and providing support to young individuals with behavioral difficulties. They are primarily responsible for devising recreational projects, handling the budget, producing progress reports, managing intervention programs, and counseling troubled youth while keeping their information confidential. There may be instances where one must also search for opportunities and apply for funding or sponsorship. Furthermore, as a youth worker, it is vital to assess an individual's condition to determine their needs and ensure that they will receive the proper treatment.
Behavioral specialists and youth workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Average salary | $42,029 | $32,242 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $61,000 | Between $25,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Freehold, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Barbarian | Salt Lake County |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Education |
There are a few differences between a behavioral specialist and a youth worker in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between behavioral specialists' and youth workers' demographics:
| Behavioral Specialist | Youth Worker | |
| Average age | 39 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 10% |