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The differences between youth 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 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 $35,180 average annual salary of a youth specialist.
The top three skills for a youth specialist include crisis intervention, direct care and mental health. The most important skills for a behavioral health specialist are patients, social work, and substance abuse.
| Youth Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,180 | $44,808 |
| Hourly rate | $16.91 | $21.54 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 71,303 | 130,222 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A youth specialist's role is to oversee the safety and welfare of children and young adults, ensuring that they get the necessary support and guidance. Their responsibilities include performing initial assessments and interviews to identify needs, conducting home inspections and evaluations, providing essential advice, and spearheading programs and projects that cater to the disadvantaged youth. Furthermore, there are instances when a youth specialist may execute interventions or refer families to other services. Should there be any signs of neglect or abuse, it is essential to coordinate with the authorities right away.
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 specialists and behavioral health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,180 | $44,808 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $45,000 | Between $29,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Outside In | Maxim Healthcare Group |
| Best paying industry | Government | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a youth specialist and a behavioral health specialist in terms of educational background:
| Youth Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Psychology |
| Most common college | SUNY at Binghamton | California State University - Long Beach |
Here are the differences between youth specialists' and behavioral health specialists' demographics:
| Youth Specialist | Behavioral Health Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.3% Female, 57.7% | Male, 29.2% Female, 70.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 62.1% 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% |