LIVE MARKET·1,110 postings · last 6 months·Updated October 22, 2026

Board Certified Behavioral Analyst salary: $77.50/hr$3,100/wk$161,200/yr median.

Pay range $62.50$2,500$130,000–$92.50/hr$3,700/wk$192,400/yr across the middle 50% of active Applied Behavior Analysis Behavioral Health Professional postings nationwide.

448 unique employers · 609 cities · 44 states. Pay moved +0.0% over the last 30 days.

Show pay as
Median /hr/wk/yr
$77.50$3,100$161,200
P25–P75
$62.50$2,500$130,000–$92.50$3,700$192,400
middle 50%
Postings
1,110
▲ 400.0%
Coverage
44 states
448 employers
01·PAY DISTRIBUTION·P10 → P90

How Board Certified Behavioral Analyst pay is distributed.

10% of postings pay under $39.00/hr$1,560/wk$81,120/yr. The top 10% pay above $100.00/hr$4,000/wk$208,000/yr.

P10
$39.00
P25
$62.50
P50
$77.50
P75
$92.50
P90
$100.00
P10
$39.00/hr$1,560/wk$81,120/yr
P25
$62.50/hr$2,500/wk$130,000/yr
P50 (median)
$77.50/hr$3,100/wk$161,200/yr
P75
$92.50/hr$3,700/wk$192,400/yr
P90
$100.00/hr$4,000/wk$208,000/yr
03·STATE BREAKDOWN·n=1,110

Board Certified Behavioral Analyst pay across every state with live data.

01Arizona AZ13 postings
$80.00/hr
02California CA105 postings
$61.50/hr
03Colorado CO38 postings
$90.00/hr
04Connecticut CT20 postings
$67.50/hr
05Delaware DE8 postings
$80.00/hr
06Florida FL91 postings
$70.00/hr
07Georgia GA31 postings
$85.00/hr
08Hawaii HI11 postings
$73.25/hr
09Illinois IL22 postings
$70.00/hr
10Indiana IN7 postings
$82.50/hr
11Maryland MD111 postings
$95.00/hr
12Massachusetts MA36 postings
$73.75/hr
13Michigan MI29 postings
$62.50/hr
14Minnesota MN11 postings
$65.00/hr
15Missouri MO6 postings
$51.50/hr
16Nevada NV6 postings
$71.25/hr
17New Hampshire NH8 postings
$71.25/hr
18New Jersey NJ135 postings
$87.50/hr
19New Mexico NM5 postings
$75.00/hr
20New York NY65 postings
$87.50/hr
21North Carolina NC67 postings
$85.00/hr
22Ohio OH11 postings
$60.00/hr
23Oregon OR7 postings
$24.50/hr
24Pennsylvania PA37 postings
$72.50/hr
25South Carolina SC11 postings
$67.50/hr
26Tennessee TN14 postings
$63.75/hr
27Texas TX28 postings
$66.25/hr
28Utah UT25 postings
$85.00/hr
29Virginia VA55 postings
$85.00/hr
30Washington WA34 postings
$60.00/hr
31West Virginia WV6 postings
$110.00/hr

Showing all 31 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.

04·TOP-PAYING CITIES·METROS WITH ACTIVE POSTINGS

The metros writing the biggest Board Certified Behavioral Analyst paychecks.

CityStateMedian /hr/wk/yrP25–P75Postings
frederickMD · MARYLAND$95.00$3,800$197,600$95.00$3,800$197,600–$98.75$3,950$205,40014
baltimoreMD · MARYLAND$91.25$3,650$189,800$80.00$3,200$166,400–$97.50$3,900$202,80018
charlotteNC · NORTH CAROLINA$85.00$3,400$176,800$68.75$2,750$143,000–$95.63$3,825$198,91020
philadelphiaPA · PENNSYLVANIA$73.75$2,950$153,400$50.63$2,025$105,310–$81.25$3,250$169,00010
kissimmeeFL · FLORIDA$72.25$2,890$150,280$42.13$1,685$87,630–$74.88$2,995$155,75010

CITY PAY DATA

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05·EMPLOYER BREAKDOWN·TOP 20 BY PAY

Where the top of the market is paying for Board Certified Behavioral Analyst.

EmployerMedian /hr/wk/yrRangePostings
Able Minds ABA$112.50$4,500$234,000$107.00$4,280$222,560–$112.50$4,500$234,00015
Actify ABA$105.00$4,200$218,400$102.50$4,100$213,200–$120.00$4,800$249,6007
Ahead ABA$95.00$3,800$197,600$95.00$3,800$197,600–$100.00$4,000$208,00039
Apple ABA$100.00$4,000$208,000$95.00$3,800$197,600–$102.50$4,100$213,2006
Children's Specialized ABA$110.00$4,400$228,800$100.00$4,000$208,000–$117.50$4,700$244,40027
Compassionate Behavioral Guidance$107.50$4,300$223,600$97.50$3,900$202,800–$107.50$4,300$223,6007
Epic Minds Therapy$100.00$4,000$208,000$97.50$3,900$202,800–$100.00$4,000$208,0008
Graham Family of Services$97.50$3,900$202,800$97.50$3,900$202,800–$97.50$3,900$202,80012
Little Champs ABA$97.50$3,900$202,800$92.50$3,700$192,400–$102.50$4,100$213,2009
Vibrant ABA Therapy$97.50$3,900$202,800$27.00$1,080$56,160–$97.50$3,900$202,8005

Showing all 10 employers with live pay data.

06·SHIFT & CONTRACT MIX·PAY BY WORK PATTERN

How Board Certified Behavioral Analyst pay shifts by schedule and contract type.

Per Diem pays the most at $81.25/hr$3,250/wk$169,000/yr median — 8% above Fulltime at $75.00/hr$3,000/wk$156,000/yr. Fulltime drives the volume with 572 active postings.

BY SHIFT
Not Specified
1,094 postings
$77.50/hr$3,100/wk$161,200/yr
Days
14 postings
$73.54/hr$2,942/wk$152,963/yr
BY JOB TYPE
Fulltime
572 postings
$75.00/hr$3,000/wk$156,000/yr
Parttime
414 postings
$80.00/hr$3,200/wk$166,400/yr
Contract
64 postings
$77.50/hr$3,100/wk$161,200/yr
Not Specified
24 postings
$48.50/hr$1,940/wk$100,880/yr
Per Diem
18 postings
$81.25/hr$3,250/wk$169,000/yr
Travel Contract
16 postings
$75.48/hr$3,019/wk$156,998/yr
08·HOW TO BECOME·CAREER PATHWAY·GENERAL TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

How to become a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst.

Behavioral health professionals diagnose, treat, and support patients with mental health, substance use, and developmental conditions across outpatient clinics, hospitals, schools, residential programs, and community settings. The category spans licensed therapists (LCSW, LMFT, LPC), psychologists, psychiatric nurses and NPs, applied behavior analysts (BCBAs), counselors, and technicians. Education and licensure differ sharply between roles, but every clinical title above the technician level requires a graduate degree plus supervised hours plus a state license.

Education·Min: HS diploma (techs) to Doctorate (psychologists) · Preferred: Master's (counselors/social workers) or Doctorate (psychologists, psychiatric NPs/MDs)

Pick the role first; each has its own ladder. Therapists (LCSW/LPC/LMFT): bachelor's → 2-year master's → 2,000-4,000 supervised hours → state licensure exam. Psychologists: bachelor's → 5-7 year PhD/PsyD → APA internship → EPPP licensing exam → state license. Psychiatric NPs: BSN + RN license → PMHNP program → ANCC certification → state APRN license. BCBAs: bachelor's → MS ABA → BCBA exam → state license (where applicable). Behavioral technicians: HS diploma + RBT 40-hour training → RBT exam.

DegreeDurationNotes
Bachelor's in psychology, social work, or relatedBA / BS / BSW4 yearsRequired for entry to graduate behavioral health programs. Sufficient on its own for technician, case-management, and BA-level behavior tech roles.
Master of Social Work / Counseling / MFTMSW / MA / MS / MFT2-3 yearsStandard entry credential for licensed therapists (LCSW, LPC/LMHC, LMFT). Includes supervised internship hours.
Master's in Applied Behavior AnalysisMS ABA2 yearsRequired for BCBA certification. Covers ABA principles, ethics, supervision, and applied research.
Doctorate in PsychologyPhD / PsyD5-7 years post-bachelorRequired to practice as a licensed psychologist. PhD is research-heavy; PsyD is clinically focused. Includes a year-long pre-doctoral internship.
Licenses & Exams·4 credentials
State clinical licenseLCSW / LPC / LMHC / LMFT (varies by state and profession)Required
Issued by: State licensing board

Required to practice independently as a therapist. Eligibility requires a qualifying master's degree, supervised clinical hours (typically 2,000-4,000), and passing the appropriate national exam (ASWB, NCMHCE, etc.).

Psychologist licenseLicensed PsychologistRequired
Exam: EPPP · Issued by: State Board of Psychology

Required to practice as a psychologist. Eligibility requires a doctorate from an APA-accredited program, completion of internship and postdoctoral hours, and passing the EPPP.

BCBA license / certificationBoard Certified Behavior AnalystRequired
Exam: BCBA exam · Issued by: Behavior Analyst Certification Board

Required for behavior-analytic practice. Many states now require additional state licensure on top of BACB certification.

Registered Behavior TechnicianRBT credentialOptional
Issued by: Behavior Analyst Certification Board

Required by most ABA agencies for paraprofessional staff. 40-hour training plus competency assessment plus exam.

Optional Certifications·Pay boost where known
CredentialIssued byPay impact
Specialty therapy certifications
EMDR, CBT-I, DBT certification, etc.
Modality-specific training (EMDR for trauma, DBT for personality disorders, CBT-I for insomnia, IFS, etc.). Important for private practice positioning and specialty caseloads.
Specialty trainers (EMDRIA, Linehan Institute, Beck Institute)+5-15%
Substance-use credentials
LADC / CADC / CSAC (varies by state)
Substance-use disorder certification stacks on top of an existing license or stands alone in some states.
State boards+5-10%
Forensic / school psychology specialization
Specialty psychology certifications (ABPP, NCSP)
Specialty board certification for psychologists. Required for school psychology in most states (NCSP); ABPP signals senior-level forensic, neuropsych, or clinical health expertise.
ABPP / NASP+10-20%
Career Path·5 steps
  1. 0-3 years
    Behavioral health technician / RBT / case manager

    Entry-level paraprofessional roles. Provides direct support, runs ABA programs, or coordinates resources under a clinician's plan.

  2. 0-3 years (post-master's)
    Associate / pre-licensed clinician

    LMSW / LPC-Associate / MFT-Associate. Practices under a supervisor while accumulating the 2,000-4,000 hours required for independent licensure.

  3. 3-7 years
    Licensed clinician

    Independent license (LCSW, LPC, LMHC, LMFT) or BCBA. Holds an independent caseload across telehealth, clinic, or private practice.

  4. 7-12 years
    Senior clinician / clinical supervisor

    Supervises associates and shares oversight of clinical quality. Often holds specialty modality certifications.

  5. 12+ years
    Clinical director / Practice owner

    Owns a private group practice or directs clinical operations for an agency, hospital service line, or community health program.

Work Environment
Private practice (individual and group)Community mental health centers (CMHCs)Hospital behavioral health unitsSchools and early interventionSubstance-use treatment programsTelehealth-only practicesCorrections and forensic settingsResidential treatment

Schedule. Outpatient roles run business hours or include some evenings. Hospital and crisis roles run 24/7 with shift work. Telehealth practices offer the most flexibility. Caseloads typically range 20-30 clinical hours per week with the rest in documentation, supervision, and admin.

Physical demands. Largely cognitive and emotional rather than physical. Crisis and inpatient roles can require physical intervention training (CPI, Handle With Care).

Job Outlook·Very Strong
+15-22% (2022-2032)

Behavioral health is one of the fastest-growing healthcare segments. Therapist, substance-use counselor, and BCBA roles all show double-digit projected growth. Telehealth expansion, insurance parity enforcement, and post-pandemic mental health demand continue to outpace clinician supply across most regions.

FAQ — Becoming this role·3 questions
What's the fastest path into licensed clinical practice?

A two-year MSW or master's in counseling, plus the post-grad supervised hours your state requires (usually 2-3 years of supervised practice). Total ~5-6 years from college to independent licensure.

LCSW vs LPC vs LMFT — which should I pursue?

Day-to-day clinical practice overlaps substantially. LCSW (social work) carries the broadest portability and the strongest standing in medical and macro settings. LPC/LMHC is the counseling track and aligns with mental health clinics. LMFT focuses on relational/family work. Many states recognize all three for the same outpatient roles; pick the master's that best matches the work you want to do.

Do I need a doctorate to be a therapist?

No. Therapy at the licensed level is overwhelmingly delivered by master's-trained clinicians. A doctorate (PhD or PsyD) is required only to practice as a psychologist, which carries scope for psychological testing and forensic assessment that master's clinicians cannot do.

09·FREQUENTLY ASKED·BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYST

What clinicians ask about Board Certified Behavioral Analyst pay.

What is the average Board Certified Behavioral Analyst salary in 2026?

The median Board Certified Behavioral Analyst salary is $77.50/hr (approximately $161,200/yr) based on 1,110 active job postings.

What is the pay range for Board Certified Behavioral Analyst?

Hourly pay ranges from $62.50 at the 25th percentile to $92.50 at the 75th percentile, with the top 10% earning above $100.00/hr.

Which state pays Board Certified Behavioral Analyst roles the most?

West Virginia currently leads with a median of $110.00/hr across 6 postings.

How many employers are hiring Board Certified Behavioral Analysts?

Our dataset shows 448 unique employers posting Board Certified Behavioral Analyst roles across 44 states.

Where does TrueRounds get Board Certified Behavioral Analyst salary data?

All salary figures are computed from active US healthcare job postings with listed pay ranges, collected over a rolling 6-month window and weighted by posting volume.

11·METHODOLOGY·HOW WE BUILD THESE NUMBERS

Active US healthcare postings. Weighted by volume. Refreshed daily.

Pay benchmarks are computed from active job postings with listed pay ranges, collected on a rolling 6-month window. Each role's percentiles are weighted by posting volume so a metro with two postings doesn't outweigh a metro with two hundred. Outliers (postings priced more than 4× the role median) are dropped to avoid contract-line distortion.

Use the data, then push back.

Bring these numbers into your next contract conversation. Recruiters know what the market pays — now you do too.