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The differences between staff therapists and behavioral therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a staff therapist, becoming a behavioral therapist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a staff therapist has an average salary of $52,147, which is higher than the $37,881 average annual salary of a behavioral therapist.
The top three skills for a staff therapist include patients, individual therapy and mental health. The most important skills for a behavioral therapist are autism, social work, and behavior analysis.
| Staff Therapist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $52,147 | $37,881 |
| Hourly rate | $25.07 | $18.21 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 101,575 | 91,976 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 6 |
A staff therapist is someone who assists in the treatment of patients using electrical stimulation, exercise, and other means of electrotherapy to regain their bodily functions. The core skills that a staff therapist should possess to accomplish their responsibilities include a keen eye for details and excellent mathematical and problem-solving skills. The job's education requirements include completing a physical therapy program and possessing a bachelor's degree in medical technician, physical work, occupational therapy, or a related field.
A behavioral therapist is responsible for supporting patients with various developmental disorders and behavioral difficulties. Behavioral therapists conduct counseling to the patients, identifying their personal and social challenges, and administering treatment plans to modify unusual behaviors. They also coordinate with other medical professionals to plan activities and therapy sessions for patients' needs. A behavioral therapist maintains a record of the patients' progress, help them on developing social engagement, and adjust treatment strategies depending on the patients' noticeable changes.
Staff therapists and behavioral therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Staff Therapist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Average salary | $52,147 | $37,881 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $77,000 | Between $27,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Barbara, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Stanford University | George C. Grape Community Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Energy |
There are a few differences between a staff therapist and a behavioral therapist in terms of educational background:
| Staff Therapist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Medical Technician | Psychology |
| Most common college | Boston University | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between staff therapists' and behavioral therapists' demographics:
| Staff Therapist | Behavioral Therapist | |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.3% Female, 62.7% | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 9% | 12% |