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The differences between rehabilitation specialists and behavioral health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a rehabilitation specialist, becoming a behavioral health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a behavioral health specialist has an average salary of $44,808, which is higher than the $42,934 average annual salary of a rehabilitation specialist.
The top three skills for a rehabilitation specialist include rehabilitation, patients and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,934 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $20.64 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 29,177 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Rehabilitation specialists are professionals who are responsible for helping individuals with physical and mental disabilities to reintegrate into society and live independently. These specialists must assist their clients in finding the type of work they could do with their disability and prepare them for their interview. They are required to provide a basic explanation about the medical or mental health condition to their clients. Rehabilitation specialists must also collaborate with other professionals to assist with rehabilitation exercises.
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.
Rehabilitation specialists and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $42,934 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $62,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cleveland, OH | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Prudential Bank | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a rehabilitation specialist and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between rehabilitation specialists' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Rehabilitation Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7% | 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% |