What Do Behavior Analysts Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for behavior analysts?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what behavior analysts do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Behavior Analysts Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about behavior analysts by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Behavior Analysts all counselors not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Behavior Analysts
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Board Certified Behavior Analysts
- Youth Counselors
- Behavior Analysts
- ABA Clinical Supervisors
- Youth Development Counselors
- Youth Program Coordinators
- Hospitality Specialists
- Residential Youth Counselors
- Youth Coordinators
- Youth Mentors
- Behavioral Analysts
- Youth Services Coordinators
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for behavior analysts can be found.
Best Industries for Behavior Analysts
Behavior Analysts Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 25.6%
- Individual and Family Services: 16.3%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 7.8%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 6.8%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 5.5%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 3.4%
- Other: 34.6%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of behavior analysts can be found working in the Offices of Other Health Practitioners sector. In 2022, about 25.6% of all jobs for behavior analysts were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Individual and Family Services (16.3%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (7.8%), Outpatient Care Centers (6.8%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (5.5%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (3.4%).
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What Do Behavior Analysts Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what behavior analysts do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work behavior analysts do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that behavior analysts tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for behavior analysts, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Behavior Analysts
Based on 35,534 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Behavior Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment Planning | 9,702 | 27% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 9,622 | 27% |
| Psychology | 9,464 | 27% |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 7,326 | 21% |
| Functional Behavior Assessment | 5,539 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Behavior Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 11,340 | 32% |
| Leadership | 5,559 | 16% |
| Research | 4,482 | 13% |
| Management | 4,128 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,128 | 12% |
Based on 35,534 job postings related to behavior analysts, treatment planning was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for autism spectrum disorders, psychology, applied behavior analysis, functional behavior assessment and special education were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for behavior analysts, followed by leadership, research, management, planning and mentorship.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment Planning | 9,702 | 27% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 9,622 | 27% |
| Psychology | 9,464 | 27% |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 7,326 | 21% |
| Functional Behavior Assessment | 5,539 | 16% |
| Special Education | 4,641 | 13% |
| Data Collection | 3,787 | 11% |
| Intervention Plans | 3,554 | 10% |
| Social Work | 3,554 | 10% |
| Developmental Disabilities | 3,429 | 10% |
| Visual Basic (Programming Language) | 3,111 | 9% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,042 | 9% |
| Working With Children | 2,991 | 8% |
| Disabilities | 2,855 | 8% |
| Billing | 2,764 | 8% |
| Mental Health | 2,337 | 7% |
| Deficits | 2,234 | 6% |
| Caregiving | 2,078 | 6% |
| Behavior Management | 2,047 | 6% |
| Data Analysis | 2,046 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 11,340 | 32% |
| Leadership | 5,559 | 16% |
| Research | 4,482 | 13% |
| Management | 4,128 | 12% |
| Planning | 4,128 | 12% |
| Mentorship | 3,811 | 11% |
| Teaching | 3,712 | 10% |
| Writing | 3,686 | 10% |
| Progress Reporting | 3,678 | 10% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,401 | 10% |
| Time Management | 3,031 | 9% |
| Coaching | 2,925 | 8% |
| Problem Solving | 2,876 | 8% |
| Operations | 2,694 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 2,672 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,469 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 2,325 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 2,234 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,190 | 6% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,169 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Behavior Analysts
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Board Certified Behavior Analysts | 140,870 | 85.2% |
| Youth Counselors | 4,641 | 2.8% |
| Behavior Analysts | 4,469 | 2.7% |
| ABA Clinical Supervisors | 2,721 | 1.6% |
| Youth Development Counselors | 1,195 | 0.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was board certified behavior analysts, with 20,289 unique job postings. Youth counselors were second, with 1,559 postings, followed by behavior analysts, aba clinical supervisors and youth development counselors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to behavior analysts.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Board Certified Behavior Analysts | 140,870 | 85.2% |
| Youth Counselors | 4,641 | 2.8% |
| Behavior Analysts | 4,469 | 2.7% |
| ABA Clinical Supervisors | 2,721 | 1.6% |
| Youth Development Counselors | 1,195 | 0.7% |
| Youth Program Coordinators | 1,298 | 0.8% |
| Hospitality Specialists | 1,222 | 0.7% |
| Residential Youth Counselors | 1,522 | 0.9% |
| Youth Coordinators | 882 | 0.5% |
| Youth Mentors | 1,560 | 0.9% |
| Behavioral Analysts | 839 | 0.5% |
| Youth Services Coordinators | 448 | 0.3% |
| Youth Development Coordinators | 420 | 0.3% |
| Relocation Coordinators | 382 | 0.2% |
| Applied Behavior Analysts | 496 | 0.3% |
| Peer Mentors | 627 | 0.4% |
| Board Certified Behavioral Analysts | 422 | 0.3% |
| Behavioral Youth Counselors | 647 | 0.4% |
| Youth Sports Coordinators | 262 | 0.2% |
| Youth Care Counselors | 394 | 0.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for behavior analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for behavior analysts.
How much do behavior analysts make?
Behavior Analysts: How do you become one?
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