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The differences between mental health clinicians and mental health practitioners 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 mental health practitioner. Additionally, a mental health clinician has an average salary of $54,359, which is higher than the $50,628 average annual salary of a mental health practitioner.
The top three skills for a mental health clinician include social work, patients and mental health. The most important skills for a mental health practitioner are social work, patients, and mental health.
| Mental Health Clinician | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| Yearly salary | $54,359 | $50,628 |
| Hourly rate | $26.13 | $24.34 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 91,347 | 140,365 |
| 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.
Mental health practitioners are medical professionals who work with patients who have mental health issues such as schizophrenia, split personality disorder, and depression. These practitioners are required to develop and implement patient care plans for adults with severe mental disabilities while providing mental health services to attain improved mental health. They must make sure that patients did not spit out their medicines by observing post medication administration with the nurse. Mental health practitioners must also manage therapeutic activities that will teach patients about functional living skills.
Mental health clinicians and mental health practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mental Health Clinician | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| Average salary | $54,359 | $50,628 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $80,000 | Between $35,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | City and County of Denver Government | Dignity Health |
| Best paying industry | Education | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a mental health clinician and a mental health practitioner in terms of educational background:
| Mental Health Clinician | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| 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 mental health practitioners' demographics:
| Mental Health Clinician | Mental Health Practitioner | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% | Male, 24.1% Female, 75.9% |
| 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% |