Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between lay health advocates 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 lay health advocate and a behavioral health specialist. Additionally, a behavioral health specialist has an average salary of $44,808, which is higher than the $35,126 average annual salary of a lay health advocate.
The top three skills for a lay health advocate include patients, social work and substance abuse. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Lay Health Advocate | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,126 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $16.89 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 62,717 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A lay health advocate helps the patients prepare for medical appointments, update and organize physicians' information. After the medical appointments, a lay health advocate offers follow-up care services by monitoring patient conditions and ensuring they follow all treatment recommendations. They assist patients in scheduling additional appointments and arrange their medications. These professionals advise patients on the best ways to maintain control over medical care and prevent more medical issues like fall injuries.
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.
Lay health advocates and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lay Health Advocate | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,126 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $44,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Johnston, RI | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Alaska |
| Best paying company | NRDC | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Education | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a lay health advocate and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Lay Health Advocate | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between lay health advocates' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Lay Health Advocate | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | 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 | 21% | 15% |