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The differences between youth care 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 youth care 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 $38,955 average annual salary of a youth care specialist.
The top three skills for a youth care specialist include customer service, patients and CPR. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Youth Care Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $38,955 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $18.73 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 133,042 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Youth care specialists are social experts who coordinate programs for children and young people who need care while being away from their own families for some reason. These specialists are required to maintain a safe environment in the community so that children will feel safe, cared for, and nurture. They must lead various seminars for youths about topics such as job readiness, financial literacy, and higher education. They must also communicate the concerns and other important information to a child's assigned social worker and provide back-up support to case managers if needed.
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.
Youth care specialists and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Care Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $38,955 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $62,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Annapolis, MD | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Delaware State Government | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Government | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a youth care specialist and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Youth Care Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between youth care specialists' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Youth Care Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 6.0% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% | 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% |