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The differences between school psychologists and behavior analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a school psychologist, becoming a behavior analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a school psychologist has an average salary of $78,431, which is higher than the $73,616 average annual salary of a behavior analyst.
The top three skills for a school psychologist include professional development, mental health and psychological services. The most important skills for a behavior analyst are autism, applied behavior analysis, and BCBA.
| School Psychologist | Behavior Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $78,431 | $73,616 |
| Hourly rate | $37.71 | $35.39 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 25,457 | 67,013 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
School psychologists are knowledgeable professionals whose responsibilities include identifying, addressing, and overcoming the educational and behavioral needs of school-aged children. They generally work in schools and focus their observations on children and youth who often face issues related to education, social relationships, decision-making, as well as managing emotions. They help families, counselors, and members of the community understand and solve these issues the children may encounter. Additionally, they provide comprehensive psychological services to help students achieve academic, behavioral, social, and emotional success.
A behavior analyst is responsible for supporting patients and students with mental and social difficulties, developing treatment plans to address their learning and/or social disabilities. Behavior analysts monitor the students' progress by evaluating their learning and providing them with comprehensive materials and resources according to a targeted curriculum. They also adjust therapy programs as needed, coordinating with other health professionals, students' families, and teachers to provide the best techniques to support their development.
School psychologists and behavior analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Psychologist | Behavior Analyst | |
| Average salary | $78,431 | $73,616 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $110,000 | Between $51,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | CORA Services | Empower U |
| Best paying industry | Education | Government |
There are a few differences between a school psychologist and a behavior analyst in terms of educational background:
| School Psychologist | Behavior Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between school psychologists' and behavior analysts' demographics:
| School Psychologist | Behavior Analyst | |
| Average age | 43 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.8% Female, 73.2% | Male, 28.9% Female, 71.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 3.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 3.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |