Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between mental health specialists and mental health therapists 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 specialist and a mental health therapist. Additionally, a mental health therapist has an average salary of $50,259, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.
The top three skills for a mental health specialist include patients, social work and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a mental health therapist are social work, patients, and mental health.
| Mental Health Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $47,321 | $50,259 |
| Hourly rate | $22.75 | $24.16 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 131,449 | 114,386 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.
The job of mental health therapists is to guide individuals, groups, couples, and families with problems that are impacting their well-being and mental health. Their duties and responsibilities include encouraging clients to talk about their experiences, examining issues that may affect mental health such as substance abuse and bullying, and assisting clients in defining their goals and action plans. Mental health therapists are also responsible for developing therapeutic processes, referring clients to other services or resources like psychologists, and helping them adjust to life changes.
Mental health specialists and mental health therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mental Health Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average salary | $47,321 | $50,259 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $71,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc | Tykes And Teens |
| Best paying industry | Government | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a mental health specialist and a mental health therapist in terms of educational background:
| Mental Health Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Master's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Social Work |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between mental health specialists' and mental health therapists' demographics:
| Mental Health Specialist | Mental Health Therapist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% | Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7% |
| 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% |