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The differences between treatment specialists and behavioral health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a treatment specialist and a behavioral health specialist. Additionally, a treatment specialist has an average salary of $53,673, which is higher than the $44,808 average annual salary of a behavioral health specialist.
The top three skills for a treatment specialist include social work, mental health and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Treatment Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,673 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $25.80 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | - | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 67,604 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The duties of a treatment specialist depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In the medical industry, a treatment specialist is primarily responsible for developing treatments according to the needs and conditions of a patient. They gather and analyze a patient's medical history and records, conduct extensive tests and examinations, coordinate with other medical experts, and discuss the extent of treatments to patients. Furthermore, a treatment specialist must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Treatment specialists and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Treatment Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $53,673 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $82,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Delaware State Government | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a treatment specialist and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Treatment Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | 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 treatment specialists' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Treatment Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 2.1% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | 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 | 10% | 15% |