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Community living assistant vs behavioral assistant

The differences between community living assistants and behavioral assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a community living assistant and a behavioral assistant. Additionally, a behavioral assistant has an average salary of $39,681, which is higher than the $30,317 average annual salary of a community living assistant.

The top three skills for a community living assistant include medication reminders, quality care and patients. The most important skills for a behavioral assistant are behavioral interventions, mental health, and patients.

Community living assistant vs behavioral assistant overview

Community Living AssistantBehavioral Assistant
Yearly salary$30,317$39,681
Hourly rate$14.58$19.08
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs72,06780,685
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

What does a community living assistant do?

Community living assistants provide fundamental health care and assist patients with daily living activities. They apply practical intervention procedures for behavioral issues as well. It is their job to lessen discomfort and preserve patient dignity while performing duties like bathing. Also, they support housing administration through equipment maintenance, staff contractors, and expense monitoring.

What does a behavioral assistant do?

Behavioral Assistants are responsible for providing support and capacity in behavioral and clinical services for students with disabilities. Their duties include addressing behavior management safety needs, supporting emotional and social needs, giving academic support, and implementing behavioral improvement plans. They also deal with physical management, behavior de-escalations, and undertake student reviews with the teacher regularly. Behavioral Assistants will also collect data, write student reports, and ensure health and hygiene protocols are adhered to.

Community living assistant vs behavioral assistant salary

Community living assistants and behavioral assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community Living AssistantBehavioral Assistant
Average salary$30,317$39,681
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $41,000Between $29,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityWest Windsor, NJSanta Maria, CA
Highest paying stateNorth DakotaWashington
Best paying companyAmerican Senior BenefitsPhysician Affiliate Group of New York
Best paying industryNon ProfitsHealth Care

Differences between community living assistant and behavioral assistant education

There are a few differences between a community living assistant and a behavioral assistant in terms of educational background:

Community Living AssistantBehavioral Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorNursingPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of VirginiaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Community living assistant vs behavioral assistant demographics

Here are the differences between community living assistants' and behavioral assistants' demographics:

Community Living AssistantBehavioral Assistant
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 23.0% Female, 77.0%Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.0% White, 58.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between community living assistant and behavioral assistant duties and responsibilities

Community living assistant example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patient's vital signs in order to improve their rehabilitation.
  • Work with dementia and Alzheimer's residents.
  • Provide primary first aid, CPR, etc.
  • Provide care to the resident by feeding, bathing, assistance in ADL'S when need.
  • Attend staff meetings as well as staying up to date on CPR and first aid training sessions.
  • Preserve patient dignity and minimize discomfort while carrying out duties such as bathing, assist in ADL's.
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Behavioral assistant example responsibilities.

  • Work one-on-one with students as well as small groups as instructed by teacher to help achieve goals outline by the IEP.
  • Modele self-help and independent skills to assist autistic and developmentally delay children achieving their establish goals.
  • Develop rapport and trust of physicians and patients to assure confidence and execution of therapy plans resulting in successful patient rehabilitation.
  • Apply behavioral analysis (ABA) and other evidence-base methods are used to decrease challenging behaviors and teach skills.
  • Assist BCBA consultants providing comprehensive educational, social, behavioral, and community services to young children on the autism spectrum.
  • Implement modifications outline in IEP.
  • Show more

Community living assistant vs behavioral assistant skills

Common community living assistant skills
  • Medication Reminders, 23%
  • Quality Care, 7%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Culinary, 6%
  • State Regulations, 5%
Common behavioral assistant skills
  • Behavioral Interventions, 12%
  • Mental Health, 10%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Vital Signs, 7%
  • Behavior Management, 7%
  • Autism, 7%

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