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The differences between field 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 field assistant and a behavioral assistant. Additionally, a behavioral assistant has an average salary of $39,681, which is higher than the $33,354 average annual salary of a field assistant.
The top three skills for a field assistant include customer service, payroll and newspapers. The most important skills for a behavioral assistant are behavioral interventions, mental health, and patients.
| Field Assistant | Behavioral Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $33,354 | $39,681 |
| Hourly rate | $16.04 | $19.08 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 59,751 | 80,685 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
The duties of a field assistant depend on one's line of work or place of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing support tasks such as preparing documentation and presentations, recording data and updating information systems, managing schedules, attending meetings, and performing research and analysis. There are also instances where a field assistant must visit job sites to conduct observation or to gather samples, coordinate with other staff, handle calls and correspondence, and run errands as needed.
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.
Field assistants and behavioral assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Field Assistant | Behavioral Assistant | |
| Average salary | $33,354 | $39,681 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $45,000 | Between $29,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Santa Maria, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | Washington |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Physician Affiliate Group of New York |
| Best paying industry | Agriculture | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a field assistant and a behavioral assistant in terms of educational background:
| Field Assistant | Behavioral Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Biology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between field assistants' and behavioral assistants' demographics:
| Field Assistant | Behavioral Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.0% Female, 45.0% | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% | 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 Percentage | 11% | 11% |