Also called: Behavior Specialist (IDD)
Designs plans to help people with developmental disabilities reduce harmful behaviors and live fuller lives.
A behavior specialist watches a client at his group home, figures out what triggers his outbursts, and trains staff on a new plan.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in psychology or behavior analysis.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, Special Education.
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years). Strong demand in disability services.
Low risk for 10 years. AI can graph behavior data, but observing a client and training group-home staff stay human.
Classes: AP Psychology, AP Statistics, Child development CTE class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 21-1093.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.