What Do Behavioral Health Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for behavioral health specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what behavioral health specialists 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.
Behavioral Health Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about behavioral health specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Behavioral Health Specialists all psychologists not listed separately.
Popular Job Titles For Behavioral Health Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Neuropsychologists
- Psychometricians
- Psychometrists
- Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Pediatric Neuropsychologists
- Research Psychologists
- Neuropsychometrists
- Health Psychologists
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialists
- Human Factors Specialists
- School Psychometrists
- Sports Psychologists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for behavioral health specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Behavioral Health Specialists
Behavioral Health Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 61%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 9.5%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 5.7%
- Federal Government, Military: 4.7%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 4.3%
- Offices of Physicians: 3.2%
- Other: 11.6%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of behavioral health specialists can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2022, about 61% of all jobs for behavioral health specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Other Health Practitioners (9.5%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (5.7%), Federal Government, Military (4.7%), General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (4.3%) and Offices of Physicians (3.2%).
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What Do Behavioral Health Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what behavioral health specialists 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 behavioral health specialists 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 behavioral health specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for behavioral health specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Behavioral Health Specialists
Based on 3,960 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Behavioral Health Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 2,695 | 68% |
| Neurology | 754 | 19% |
| Clinical Psychology | 680 | 17% |
| Neuropsychological Tests | 666 | 17% |
| Psychometrics | 611 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Behavioral Health Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 1,633 | 41% |
| Writing | 1,027 | 26% |
| Communications | 924 | 23% |
| Presentations | 711 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 653 | 16% |
Based on 3,960 job postings related to behavioral health specialists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 68% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for neurology, clinical psychology, neuropsychological tests, psychometrics and sas (software) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for behavioral health specialists, followed by writing, communications, presentations, problem solving and quality control.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 2,695 | 68% |
| Neurology | 754 | 19% |
| Clinical Psychology | 680 | 17% |
| Neuropsychological Tests | 666 | 17% |
| Psychometrics | 611 | 15% |
| SAS (Software) | 608 | 15% |
| Rehabilitation | 596 | 15% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 545 | 14% |
| Pediatrics | 538 | 14% |
| Clinical Neuropsychology | 537 | 14% |
| Statistical Software | 537 | 14% |
| Item Response Theory | 522 | 13% |
| R (Programming Language) | 510 | 13% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 492 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 480 | 12% |
| SPSS (Statistical Software) | 384 | 10% |
| Project Management | 379 | 10% |
| Behavioral Health | 359 | 9% |
| Neuropsychological Assessments | 350 | 9% |
| Traumatic Brain Injuries | 339 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 1,633 | 41% |
| Writing | 1,027 | 26% |
| Communications | 924 | 23% |
| Presentations | 711 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 653 | 16% |
| Quality Control | 594 | 15% |
| Management | 572 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 473 | 12% |
| Time Management | 446 | 11% |
| Detail Oriented | 428 | 11% |
| Planning | 404 | 10% |
| Quality Assurance | 391 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 364 | 9% |
| Critical Thinking | 354 | 9% |
| Report Writing | 337 | 9% |
| Adaptability | 326 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 308 | 8% |
| Editing | 286 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 285 | 7% |
| Teaching | 283 | 7% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Behavioral Health Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Neuropsychologists | 3,535 | 30.6% |
| Psychometricians | 2,197 | 19% |
| Psychometrists | 3,087 | 26.8% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 648 | 5.6% |
| Pediatric Neuropsychologists | 445 | 3.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was neuropsychologists, with 940 unique job postings. Psychometricians were second, with 666 postings, followed by psychometrists, clinical neuropsychologists and pediatric neuropsychologists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to behavioral health specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Neuropsychologists | 3,535 | 30.6% |
| Psychometricians | 2,197 | 19% |
| Psychometrists | 3,087 | 26.8% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 648 | 5.6% |
| Pediatric Neuropsychologists | 445 | 3.9% |
| Research Psychologists | 410 | 3.6% |
| Neuropsychometrists | 505 | 4.4% |
| Health Psychologists | 366 | 3.2% |
| Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialists | 73 | 0.6% |
| Human Factors Specialists | 41 | 0.4% |
| School Psychometrists | 34 | 0.3% |
| Sports Psychologists | 26 | 0.2% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 28 | 0.2% |
| Personnel Research Psychologists | 32 | 0.3% |
| Forensic Psychologists | 11 | 0.1% |
| Psychologists | 16 | 0.1% |
| Engineering Psychologists | 31 | 0.3% |
| Operational Psychologists | 16 | 0.1% |
| Pediatric Psychologists | 23 | 0.2% |
| Inpatient Psychologists | 16 | 0.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for behavioral health specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for behavioral health specialists.
How much do behavioral health specialists make?
Behavioral Health Specialists: How do you become one?
All Occupations
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