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The differences between behavioral therapists and technicians 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 therapist, becoming a technician takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a technician has an average salary of $38,045, 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 technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Behavioral Therapist | Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,881 | $38,045 |
| Hourly rate | $18.21 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 91,976 | 596,842 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 2 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with. They are usually working with electricity or with technological advancements. Technicians may be assigned to do the construction of equipment or materials related to their field of study. They may also be assigned to conduct diagnostics and other maintenance activities to ensure that the equipment works properly. Technicians may also be required to conduct basic repairs in case of problems. It is important that technicians have good analytical skills and decision-making skills.
Behavioral therapists and technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Behavioral Therapist | Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,881 | $38,045 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $51,000 | Between $24,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | George C. Grape Community Hospital | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a behavioral therapist and a technician in terms of educational background:
| Behavioral Therapist | Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | - |
Here are the differences between behavioral therapists' and technicians' demographics:
| Behavioral Therapist | Technician | |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% | Male, 75.2% Female, 24.8% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 4.9% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 2% |