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The differences between crisis workers and mental health associates 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 worker and a mental health associate. Additionally, a mental health associate has an average salary of $36,510, which is higher than the $33,805 average annual salary of a crisis worker.
The top three skills for a crisis worker include patients, social work and mental health crisis. The most important skills for a mental health associate are patients, customer service, and vital signs.
| Crisis Worker | Mental Health Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $33,805 | $36,510 |
| Hourly rate | $16.25 | $17.55 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 99,201 | 122,947 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A crisis worker is a mental health professional specializing in providing counseling and support services to individuals under emotional distress often caused by mental and behavioral issues, conducting interventions as needed. They are usually assigned in institutions or medical facilities, sometimes working for crisis hotlines where they must answer phone calls from clients, remain calm and rational during conversations, offer advice, and refer them to other support agencies to prevent them from taking drastic measures. A crisis worker engages with clients of all ages, requiring them to be proactive at all times.
As a mental health associate, you will assist the medical team members in diagnosing and treating individuals with mental, developmental, and behavioral conditions. You may be tasked to facilitate individual and group therapy sessions, help patients with their day-to-day activities such as self-care and hygiene, and assist in administering medications prescribed by physicians. Other duties include planning and leading program activities, attending treatment rounds, and assisting with the physical care of patients. The qualifications and skills required for this role include a bachelor's degree in social science or psychology, previous work experience, and certification on basic life support.
Crisis workers and mental health associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Crisis Worker | Mental Health Associate | |
| Average salary | $33,805 | $36,510 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $49,000 | Between $25,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Northwestern Medicine | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Professional |
There are a few differences between a crisis worker and a mental health associate in terms of educational background:
| Crisis Worker | Mental Health Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between crisis workers' and mental health associates' demographics:
| Crisis Worker | Mental Health Associate | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.4% Female, 74.6% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| 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% |