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Behavioral technician vs health care technician

The differences between behavioral technicians and health care technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a health care technician has an average salary of $36,553, 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 a health care technician are patients, CPR, and plant health.

Behavioral technician vs health care technician overview

Behavioral TechnicianHealth Care Technician
Yearly salary$33,282$36,553
Hourly rate$16.00$17.57
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs45,287173,122
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age3434
Years of experience--

What does a behavioral technician do?

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.

What does a health care technician do?

A health care technician works with laboratory equipment used for the analysis of specimens for diagnosis. The health care technician's role is an integral part of a health care facility as all proper diagnosis stems from accurate laboratory results. Included with a healthcare technician's tasks is to take vital signs, collect samples, and work closely with doctors during patient consultations and check-ups. The health care technician typically works inside a laboratory and is expected to keep the area clean and all equipment is all in working order.

Behavioral technician vs health care technician salary

Behavioral technicians and health care technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Behavioral TechnicianHealth Care Technician
Average salary$33,282$36,553
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $44,000Between $27,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CitySomerville, MAChelmsford, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyMissouri State UniversityUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryEducationGovernment

Differences between behavioral technician and health care technician education

There are a few differences between a behavioral technician and a health care technician in terms of educational background:

Behavioral TechnicianHealth Care Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorPsychologyNursing
Most common collegeJohns Hopkins UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Behavioral technician vs health care technician demographics

Here are the differences between behavioral technicians' and health care technicians' demographics:

Behavioral TechnicianHealth Care Technician
Average age3434
Gender ratioMale, 32.7% Female, 67.3%Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2%
Race ratioBlack 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, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between behavioral technician and health care technician duties and responsibilities

Behavioral technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the behavior of students using the CPI training skills when necessary.
  • Train in CPR and restraint techniques, as well as behavioral training to detect the precursors to behavioral issues.
  • Experience with individuals of all ages affect by autism and other behavioral, developmental or communication disorders
  • Implement behavioral support plans provide and produce by apply behavior analysts for individual consumers diagnose with autism spectrum disorder.
  • Facilitate psycho-social education groups with interventions used but not limit to motivational interviewing, mental rehabilitation and think processes.
  • Provide observation, documentation and communication of patient behavioral and verbal responses /reactions between patients and between patients and staff.
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Health care technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage ventilator settings, suction tracheostomy, tube-feeding assistance.
  • Maintain and operate delivery vehicle need to safely transport necessary equipment to patients on a regularly schedule basis.
  • Observe, report and document pertinent information about patients per policy, to include communication with direct supervisor and treatment team.
  • Field incoming communications, perform administrative duties such as chart upkeep and telemetry monitoring with close attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Utilize interviewing skills in order to fill out patient's care programs/interests and organized/file patient records manually and with EMR.
  • Work in-home, providing compassionate care for older adults with Alzheimer's disease.
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Behavioral technician vs health care technician skills

Common behavioral technician skills
  • Autism, 18%
  • Applied Behavior Analysis, 13%
  • Behavior Analysis, 12%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder, 5%
  • Patients, 4%
Common health care technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • CPR, 13%
  • Plant Health, 12%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • Care Tech, 5%

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