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The differences between behavioral therapists and behavior technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a behavior technician has an average salary of $38,026, which is higher than the $37,881 average annual salary of a behavioral therapist.
The top three skills for a behavioral therapist include autism, social work and behavior analysis. The most important skills for a behavior technician are autism, applied behavior analysis, and behavior analysis.
| Behavioral Therapist | Behavior Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,881 | $38,026 |
| Hourly rate | $18.21 | $18.28 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 91,976 | 47,541 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 39 | 34 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A behavioral therapist is responsible for supporting patients with various developmental disorders and behavioral difficulties. Behavioral therapists conduct counseling to the patients, identifying their personal and social challenges, and administering treatment plans to modify unusual behaviors. They also coordinate with other medical professionals to plan activities and therapy sessions for patients' needs. A behavioral therapist maintains a record of the patients' progress, help them on developing social engagement, and adjust treatment strategies depending on the patients' noticeable changes.
The job of a behavioral technician is to offer mental health services to patients who struggle with behavior-related problems. Behavior technicians uphold the highest standard of quality of care. They are the ones who enforce learning programs like self-help, communication, and play skills. It is their duty to incorporate medical care training for parents, so caregivers or family members can support and teach skills during family activities. One must be good in written and verbal communication, can work with team members, and develop good interpersonal relationship skills to be a good technician.
Behavioral therapists and behavior technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Therapist | Behavior Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,881 | $38,026 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $51,000 | Between $29,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | George C. Grape Community Hospital | Ernst & Young |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Education |
There are a few differences between a behavioral therapist and a behavior technician in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Therapist | Behavior Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between behavioral therapists' and behavior technicians' demographics:
| Behavioral Therapist | Behavior Technician | |
| Average age | 39 | 34 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% | Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5% |
| 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, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 15% |