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The differences between residential 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 residential 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 $33,451 average annual salary of a residential specialist.
The top three skills for a residential specialist include mental health, crisis intervention and CPR. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Residential Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,451 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $16.08 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 49,467 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
The residential specialist job is to provide quality support services to consumers that enhance physical, emotional, intellectual, vocational, communication, and social skills according to the individual's needs, abilities, and choices. Their duties and responsibilities include following the guidelines given by their agencies and assisting clients as needed according to their daily plan and schedule.
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.
Residential specialists and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Residential Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $33,451 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $44,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a residential specialist and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Residential Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor'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 residential specialists' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Residential Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% | 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 | 11% | 15% |