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The differences between behavioral technicians and aba therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an aba therapist has an average salary of $35,938, which is higher than the $33,282 average annual salary of a behavioral technician.
The top three skills for a behavioral technician include autism, applied behavior analysis and behavior analysis. The most important skills for an aba therapist are autism, applied behavior analysis, and BCBA.
| Behavioral Technician | ABA Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,282 | $35,938 |
| Hourly rate | $16.00 | $17.28 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 45,287 | 90,516 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 34 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
A behavioral technician is responsible for supporting patients to overcome their behavior problems and difficulties. Behavioral technicians evaluate the patient's condition through counseling and administer behavioral treatment plans according to the patients' needs. They also coordinate with other physicians and mental health professionals for medications and more serious medical support as needed. A behavioral technician assists the patients in their daily activities, observe their social and personal behaviors, write progress reports, and develop engaging activities that would help them bring back a healthy lifestyle and growth.
An ABA therapist is responsible for administering treatment plans to patients with behavioral disabilities and intellectual disorders, supporting them through systematic processes, and recording their developmental progress throughout therapy sessions. ABA therapists develop engaging activities for the children, observing their personal and social behaviors, and adjust approach as needed. They also coordinate with other behavior therapists and other medical health professionals for refined strategies that adhere to the child's progress. An ABA therapist must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist patients with different behavioral problems and attend to their needs efficiently.
Behavioral technicians and aba therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Technician | ABA Therapist | |
| Average salary | $33,282 | $35,938 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $44,000 | Between $27,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Somerville, MA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Missouri State University | Cook Children's Medical Center |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a behavioral technician and an aba therapist in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Technician | ABA Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Johns Hopkins University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between behavioral technicians' and aba therapists' demographics:
| Behavioral Technician | ABA Therapist | |
| Average age | 34 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.7% Female, 67.3% | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 6% |