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The differences between mental health clinicians 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 mental health clinician and a behavioral health specialist. Additionally, a mental health clinician has an average salary of $54,359, which is higher than the $44,808 average annual salary of a behavioral health specialist.
The top three skills for a mental health clinician include social work, patients and mental health. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Mental Health Clinician | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,359 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $26.13 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 91,347 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Mental Health Clinician provides psychotherapeutic and rehabilitation services for patients with mental health problems. They manage the treatment of clients and help them to obtain stable physical health.
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.
Mental health clinicians and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mental Health Clinician | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $54,359 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $80,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | City and County of Denver Government | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Education | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a mental health clinician and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Mental Health Clinician | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 49% | 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 mental health clinicians' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Mental Health Clinician | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% | 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% |