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The differences between family 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 family specialist and a behavioral health specialist. Additionally, a behavioral health specialist has an average salary of $44,808, which is higher than the $40,115 average annual salary of a family specialist.
The top three skills for a family specialist include social work, foster care and substance abuse. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Family Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,115 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $19.29 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 81,148 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Family Specialist performs social work for families in need. They are focused on helping individuals and families to improve their lives.
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.
Family specialists and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Family Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $40,115 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $51,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Brigham and Women's Hospital | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a family specialist and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Family Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between family specialists' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Family Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.4% Female, 67.6% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | 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 | 10% | 15% |