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The differences between crisis intervention specialists and behavioral health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a crisis intervention specialist and a behavioral health specialist. Additionally, a crisis intervention specialist has an average salary of $54,678, which is higher than the $44,808 average annual salary of a behavioral health specialist.
The top three skills for a crisis intervention specialist include social work, patients and substance abuse. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,678 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $26.29 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 80,817 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A crisis intervention specialist provides counseling services and intervention to patients in high-stress situations. Their responsibilities include conducting assessments to understand the clients' conditions, studying their medical histories and personal background, developing treatment plans, and regularly monitoring their behavior and progress. They may also coordinate with the patients' families or guardians, provide care advice, or refer patients to other specialists when necessary. Moreover, a crisis intervention specialist gives emotional support and guidance to patients, helping them deal with stress.
Typically working for clinics and learning institutions, a behavioral health specialist is in charge of counseling and treating patients with behavioral issues. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial assessment through interview and observation, maintaining records and data, developing treatment plans, and referring patients to other support services when necessary. Moreover, a behavioral health specialist must communicate with the patient's families or guardians, discuss conditions, and provide advice on taking care of them. Aside from treating patients, it is also essential to continuously monitor their behavior while building positive relationships with them.
Crisis intervention specialists and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $54,678 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $73,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hoboken, NJ | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Legacy Health | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a crisis intervention specialist and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between crisis intervention specialists' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Crisis Intervention Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.6% Female, 70.4% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |